SEZONOWA ZMIENNOŚĆ ŹRÓDEŁ PYŁÓW ZAWIESZONYCH NA PRZYKŁADZIE KRAKOWA

We are observing a long-term trend, which is the growing interest of scientists and the general public, in air quality and air pollution, both in Poland and around the world. The deterioration of air quality is influenced by both anthropogenic and natural factors. The most well-known sources of anthropogenic emissions into the atmosphere include the combustion of fossil fuels and biomass, transportation, industry, as well as agricultural activities. Natural sources include, for example, grass pollen, soil erosion, wildfires, and volcanic emissions. One of the primary pollutants emitted into the atmosphere is particulate matter (PM) – an aerosol with a complex composition. It may contain chemical compounds considered carcinogenic, and long-term exposure to high concentrations can lead to adverse health effects. Therefore, in 2021, the World Health Organization (WHO) published recommended limits for particulate matter fractions PM10 and PM2.5. In the doctoral dissertation of Alicja Skiba entitled „Seasonal variability of air pollution sources in Kraków during the period of 2018-2019, based on analyses of chemical and isotopic composition”, the sources of particulate matter in a major urban center – Krakow, were studied. Two particulate matter fractions (PM1 and PM10) were analyzed, with daily samples collected between April 21, 2018, and March 19, 2019. These samples underwent the following analyses: ion chromatography, high-performance anion-exchange chromatography with pulsed amperometric detection, energy-dispersive X-ray fluorescence spectrometry, thermo-optical analysis of OC/EC, and mass spectrometry (AMS and IRMS). The results were interpreted using methods such as positive matrix factorization (PMF). The application of PMF revealed five emission sources: coal and biomass (solid fuel) combustion, secondary inorganic aerosols, road emissions, soil matter, industry and other unidentified sources. The results showed significant variability in emissions from coal and biomass combustion between the heating and non-heating seasons (a substantial increase from several percent to as much as 41%). Industrial emissions exhibited a relatively stable contribution throughout the year, ranging from approximately 14% to 24%, depending on the fraction and season