Receptor Modeling Source Apportionment of PM10 and Benzo(a)pyrene in Krakow, Poland

The main energy source in Krakow, Poland is coal combustion, which is believed to be the reason for frequent winter episodes of extremely high ambient air concentrations of particulate matter (PM10) and associated benzo(a)pyrene B(a)P. Results are presented on the source apportionment of PM10 and B(a)P during two episodes of thermal inversion (14/1 ; 2/3, 2005) at four different air monitoring stations and four apartments (indoor) in the city of Krakow, The results are compared to the Zakopane mountain site selected due to its prominent domestic coal heating and little traffic. The source apportionment was based on receptor modeling of the total of 72 ambient PM samples and 21 individual PM sources, chemically characterised for a high number of organic and inorganic compounds including polyaromatics (15 PAH and 18 azaarenes) heavy metals and trace elements (28 compounds), major ions, soot and organic carbon. An array of multivariate receptor models was used i.e. chemical mass balance (CMB), constrained matrix factorisation (CMF), constrained physical receptor modelling (COPREM) positive matrix factorization (PMF), principle component analysis with multi-linear regression analysis (PCA-MLRA), edge analysis (UNMIX), cluster analysis (CA), and self organizing maps SOM). The variation in the receptor dataset (55 compounds, 60 outdoor and 12 indoor PM samples) allowed the models of the pure factor analysis type (PMF, UNMIX, PCA-MLRA) to identify 3-5 factors of mixed sources. The interpretation of the factors was not straightforward, but pointed to a dominating primary source contribution from coal combustion (>60%) and a minor contribution from traffic (<10%). The secondary PM sources (20-30%) comprised industry and traffic. The results of cluster analysis and self organizing maps supported these indications. PMF was able to disaggregate the coal combustion into three factors i.e. ~10% related to industrial activities, ~20% related to home heating by stoves (coal) and ~30% related to boilers. The chemical fingerprints of the receptor samples and the main PM sources in Krakow and Zakopane allowed the pure chemical mass balance; type model (EPA-CMB8.2) to estimate the major contributions from two primary source types i.e. residential heating by coal combustion in small stoves and low efficiency boilers (~45%) and boilers with rudimentary PM reductions techniques such as cyclones (~15%), one major secondary source deriving from industrial and traffic emissions of SO2 + NOx + possibly HCl (~20%). Five minor primary sources were also identified i.e. traffic 5%, biomass burning ~5%, coke/fuel combustion ~5%, industrial high efficiency coal combustion 3%, and road/salt/rock re-suspension ~2%. The indoor PM10 and B(a)P were found to have the same sources as outdoor PM10 and B(a)P The results obtained by the models CMF and COPREM - which are hybrids of factor analysis and chemical mass balance generally agreed with the CMB results. However, their source contribution estimates are slightly different: residential heating ~30%, boilers with rudimentary PM reductions techniques such as cyclones ~30%, industrial high efficiency coal combustion ~15% traffic 3-7%, secondary 13-21%, road/salt/rock re-suspension 2-8%. All receptor models calculated residential heating to be the principal PM source in Zakopane (70-80%).JRC.H.4-Transport and air qualit

Source Apportionment of PM10 and Associated Air Toxics Using Chemical Analysis and Receptor Modelling in Highly Polluted Areas: Overview of Results from the Po Valley Italy and Krakow, Poland

¿The Lombardy Region (RL) is located in the Po Valley and with its more than 9 million residents it is Italy¿s most densely inhabited area and one of the most polluted areas in Europe with regard to PM and photochemical smog. The EU air quality limit for PM10 of 50 µg m-3 (24 hours average) is exceeded up to 180 days per year and the limit of 40 µg m-3 (yearly average) is in breach for most urban / urban-background areas. In many cities in the new EU member-states, where coal combustion is a major energy source, such as Krakow, the situation is similar or even worse. With the aim of identifying efficient abatement strategies for the Lombardy Region, Italy the EU Joint Research Centre has embarked on a major integrated air quality project focused on particulate matter pollution to be carried out over a 5 years period (2006-2010). An overview is given of the results obtained in the first phase of the project and comparisons are made to a recent project carried out during winter 2005 in Krakow, Poland. In total 700 (RL) + 150 (Krakow) PM10 samples were collected and analyzed chemically for the regulated air toxics and source marker compounds including PAHs, higher linear alkanes, levoglucosan, K and Rb (wood combustion); Ca, Al, Fe, Mg, K, Ti, Ce, and Sr (soil/dust re- suspension); Na (road salt); Fe, Cu, Sn, Sb, and Mo (break-ware); V(fuel oil); Ce, Rh, Pt, and Pd (vehicle exhaust catalysts); Zn (tire-ware/tire combustion); Fe, Mn, Cr (railroad steel abrasion). In order to complete the chemical characterization the most significant cations and anions were also determined. Quantitative source apportionment was achieved by positive/constrained matrix factorization (PMF/CMF) and chemical mass balance modeling (CMB). During the studied pollution episodes in Krakow (Jan.-Feb. 2005) the European air quality limits were exceeded with up to a factor 8 for PM10 and up to a factor 200 for B(a)P, which is typical during winter for regions like Krakow. The major culprit for the extreme pollution levels resulted from CMB and CMF calculations to be residential heating by coal combustion in small stoves and boilers (>50% for PM10 and >90% B(a)P), whereas road transport (<10% for PM10 and <3% for B(a)P), and industry (4-15% for PM10 and <6% for B(a)P) played a lesser role. The inorganic secondary aerosol component of PM10 amounted to around 30%, which for a large part may be attributed to the industrial emission of the precursors SO2 and NOX. During the Lombardy Region study period (Feb. 2007), the PM10 concentrations were in the range of 21 to 209 µg m-3 and displayed a high degree of synchronism caused by typical winter meteorological conditions with very weak, cyclic winds, temperature inversions and shallow mixed boundary layers. The EU 24h limit was exceeded in the vast majority of days all over the region. The associated air toxics B(a)P, Pb, Ni, Cd and As did not exceed their respective EU limits with the exception of B(a)P in Sondrio. The secondary aerosol components NH4NO3 and (NH4)2SO4 contributed with 30-45% of the mass and it is evident that abatement strategies in RL for PM10 must include the reduction of emissions of gaseous precursors. At all sites, vehicle emissions and the related re-suspension of road-dust/soil were the main contributors, amounting to 31-41% of the total PM10 mass. Wood-burning was estimated by CMB with rater high uncertainties. It contributed with 10-18% of the total PM10 mass in the Po valley and with 27% in Sondrio (situated in the Valtelline valley). Minor specific sources were revealed for Sondrio (combustion of fuel oil, 7%), Brescia (cement production, 3%) and sodium chloride was found to contribute with around 2%, which may derive form long-transported sea-salt, or more likely may derive from road de-freezing agents.JRC.H.4-Transport and air qualit

Assesment of the of Pcdd/Fs Emissions from Coal Fired Residential Heating Appliances by Air Dispersion Moddeling

Coal fired stoves for residential heating could generate significant PCDD/Fs emissions to the air. This is now reflected also in the new version of the Standardised Toolkit for Identification and Quantification of Dioxin and Furan Releases which in addition to given emission factor of 3 μg TEQ/ t provides also the very high value of 400 μg TEQ/ t for high chlorine coal combusted in the stoves.1 With such a high emission factor residential heating could be the dominant source of PCDD/Fs where coal with high chlorine content is used in stoves. High levels of the PCDD/Fs in December 2002 were measured by Christoph et al2 in air particulate matter in centre of Krakow, Poland. These levels were attributed to the residential heating by congener profile comparison. This work presents dispersion modelling of residential heating emissions to assess whether high or low emission factors give better match to the measured PCDD/F ambient air levels.JRC.H.4-Transport and air qualit

Assessment of the PCDD/Fs Emissions From Coal Fired Residential Heating Appliances By Air Dispersion Modelling

Coal fired stoves for residential heating could generate significant PCDD/Fs emissions to the air. This is now reflected also in the new version of the Standardised Toolkit for Identification and Quantification of Dioxin and Furan Releases which in addition to given emission factor of 3 microg TEQ/ t provides also the very high value of 400 microg TEQ/ t for high chlorine coal combusted in the stoves. With such a high emission factor residential heating could be the dominant source of PCDD/Fs where coal with high chlorine content is used in stoves. High levels of the PCDD/Fs in December 2002 were measured in air particulate matter in centre of Krakow, Poland. These levels were attributed to the residential heating by congener profile comparison. This work presents dispersion modelling of residential heating emissions to assess whether high or low emission factors give better match to the measured PCDD/F ambient air levels.JRC.H.5-Rural, water and ecosystem resource

Chemical Speciation of PM (PAH, Heavy Metals, Trace Elements)

Abstract is not availableJRC.H.4-Transport and air qualit

Chemical Characterization of Main Sources For Receptor Modeling

See attached documentJRC.H.4-Transport and air qualit

PM Measurements in Krakow During a Winter Campaign

see attached documentJRC.H.4-Transport and air qualit

Physically Constrained Receptor Modelling of PM10 from Winter Time Krakow

Krakow is Poland¿s second largest city and one of the most polluted cities in Europe with regards to particulate matter (PM) and associated compounds, such as benzo(a)pyrene (B(a)P). The study was designed to apportion coal combustion sources in comparison with other main sources for these pollutants PM10 samples were collected in Krakow during typical winter pollution events from 5 sampling sites, all with little different source profiles, industry, traffic, residential, urban background and rural background areas. The receptor samples were chemically analyzed together with PM emissions samples from 20 major sources and the obtained data was subjected to multivariate receptor modeling. 46 individual compounds were included comprising elementary and organic carbon (EC/OC), major anions and cations, trace elements, polyaromatic hydrocarbons and azaarenes. The source apportionment was accomplished by physically constrained positive matrix factorization (CMF). The hybrid receptor model between chemical mass balance and factor analysis with physically meaningful constraints was developed in the early 90ties by Wåhlin (Wåhlin, 1993). Subject for constraints was to gain reduced rotational ambiguity and physically more interpretable factors. In this study, these ideas are developed further by not only constraining ratios of specific elements, but allowing the constraint to be variable within uncertainty limits. The limits for constraints can be obtained from experimental uncertainties of source profiles or expert knowledge about specific elemental ratios, e.g. evaporation or chemical transformation that changes the original source fingerprint from one form to an other. Furthermore, the uncertainties for semivolatile PACs were scaled using temperature corrected subcooled liquid vapor pressures (Fernández et al., 2002). CMF takes advantage of the multi-linear engine ME-2 model tool developed by Paatero,(1999), which facilitate the running of PMF in various constrained modes. The highest primary contributions to the PM10 pollution in the city of Krakow and in particularbackground site Zakopane was from Home heating. In Krakow this source covers 30-50% andin Zakopane to 80-90% of total PM10, which is in agreement with high number of small stoves in Krakow and Zakopane. The second highest primary contribution of PM10 was estimated to come from industrial power generation (coal), 30-40% in Krakow and 5-10% in Zakopane to 80-90%. Traffic and re-suspension was estimated by to be lowest primary source explains to 8-10% in Krakow and less than 2% in Zakopane. The contribution from secondary aerosols was estimated to contribute with 20-21% in Krakow and less than 8-10% in Zakopane.JRC.H.4-Transport and air qualit

ERA industrial technology roadmap for low-carbon technologies in energy intensive industries

The EU has to drastically accelerate the clean energy transition and increase Europe's energy independence from fossil fuels – and from Russia. This focus is not new: decarbonisation of industry is a key element on the EU’s path to achieving the objective of climate neutrality by 2050 and an intermediate target of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by at least 55% by 2030, as laid down in the European Climate Law. However, bringing innovative low-carbon industrial technologies quickly to the market has become more urgent than ever. The European Research Area (ERA) industrial technology roadmap sketches out the key technologies and the means to transfer them to the industrial ecosystem for energy-intensive industries at EU and national level.Scaling up and deploying the – manageable – number of innovative low-carbon technologies currently at high technology readiness is needed to reach the 2030 emission objectives and to further reduce industry dependence on gas.In order to make best use of the public toolbox to leverage private R&I investment, to increase cross-sector cooperation and accelerate deployment, a number of opportunities for actions were identified, such as to intensify the cooperation with European standardisation organisations (e.g. CEN, CENELEC) and industrial partnerships to identify and fill main standardisation gaps for innovative low-carbon industrial technologies.https://data.europa.eu/doi/10.2777/92567https://dx.doi.org/10.2777/92567KI-01-21-501-EN-NISBN 978-92-76-44692-7EUR 2021.5872 E

Vorapaxar in the secondary prevention of atherothrombotic events

Item does not contain fulltextBACKGROUND: Thrombin potently activates platelets through the protease-activated receptor PAR-1. Vorapaxar is a novel antiplatelet agent that selectively inhibits the cellular actions of thrombin through antagonism of PAR-1. METHODS: We randomly assigned 26,449 patients who had a history of myocardial infarction, ischemic stroke, or peripheral arterial disease to receive vorapaxar (2.5 mg daily) or matching placebo and followed them for a median of 30 months. The primary efficacy end point was the composite of death from cardiovascular causes, myocardial infarction, or stroke. After 2 years, the data and safety monitoring board recommended discontinuation of the study treatment in patients with a history of stroke owing to the risk of intracranial hemorrhage. RESULTS: At 3 years, the primary end point had occurred in 1028 patients (9.3%) in the vorapaxar group and in 1176 patients (10.5%) in the placebo group (hazard ratio for the vorapaxar group, 0.87; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.80 to 0.94; P<0.001). Cardiovascular death, myocardial infarction, stroke, or recurrent ischemia leading to revascularization occurred in 1259 patients (11.2%) in the vorapaxar group and 1417 patients (12.4%) in the placebo group (hazard ratio, 0.88; 95% CI, 0.82 to 0.95; P=0.001). Moderate or severe bleeding occurred in 4.2% of patients who received vorapaxar and 2.5% of those who received placebo (hazard ratio, 1.66; 95% CI, 1.43 to 1.93; P<0.001). There was an increase in the rate of intracranial hemorrhage in the vorapaxar group (1.0%, vs. 0.5% in the placebo group; P<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Inhibition of PAR-1 with vorapaxar reduced the risk of cardiovascular death or ischemic events in patients with stable atherosclerosis who were receiving standard therapy. However, it increased the risk of moderate or severe bleeding, including intracranial hemorrhage. (Funded by Merck; TRA 2P-TIMI 50 ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT00526474.)