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Extreme air pollution from residential solid fuel burning

Author

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  • Chunshui Lin

    (National University of Ireland Galway
    National University Ireland Galway
    Institute of Earth Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences)

  • Ru-Jin Huang

    (National University of Ireland Galway
    Institute of Earth Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences)

  • Darius Ceburnis

    (National University of Ireland Galway
    National University Ireland Galway)

  • Paul Buckley

    (University College Cork)

  • Jana Preissler

    (National University of Ireland Galway
    National University Ireland Galway)

  • John Wenger

    (University College Cork)

  • Matteo Rinaldi

    (Instituto di Scienze dell’Atmosfera–CNR)

  • Maria Christina Facchini

    (Instituto di Scienze dell’Atmosfera–CNR)

  • Colin O’Dowd

    (National University of Ireland Galway
    National University Ireland Galway)

  • Jurgita Ovadnevaite

    (National University of Ireland Galway
    National University Ireland Galway)

Abstract

Atmospheric aerosol particles (also known as particulate matter) are central to the cause of the two greatest threats to human security: air pollution (~5 million premature deaths per year) and climate change (~0.5 million per year). Addressing these threats requires an understanding of particulate matter sources responsible for both extreme air pollution immediately affecting human health and less extreme levels affecting climate over longer timescales. Here, extraordinary levels of air pollution, with submicrometre aerosol (PM1) mass concentration surpassing 300 µg m−3, were observed in a moderately sized European city and are attributed to emissions from residential solid fuel—specifically peat and wood, often promoted as ‘slow-renewable’, ‘low-carbon’ or ‘carbon-neutral’ biomass. Using sophisticated fingerprinting techniques, we find that consumption of peat and wood in up to 12% and 1% of households, respectively, contributed up to 70% of PM1. The results from this approach can better inform emissions reduction policies and help to ensure the most appropriate air pollution sources are targeted. Given the far greater abundance of solid fuels and concomitant emissions required to match the calorific benefit of liquid fuels, even modest increases in the consumption of ‘green’-marketed solid fuels will disproportionally increase the frequency of extreme pollution events.

Suggested Citation

  • Chunshui Lin & Ru-Jin Huang & Darius Ceburnis & Paul Buckley & Jana Preissler & John Wenger & Matteo Rinaldi & Maria Christina Facchini & Colin O’Dowd & Jurgita Ovadnevaite, 2018. "Extreme air pollution from residential solid fuel burning," Nature Sustainability, Nature, vol. 1(9), pages 512-517, September.
  • Handle: RePEc:nat:natsus:v:1:y:2018:i:9:d:10.1038_s41893-018-0125-x
    DOI: 10.1038/s41893-018-0125-x
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Amato, Federico & Laib, Mohamed & Guignard, Fabian & Kanevski, Mikhail, 2020. "Analysis of air pollution time series using complexity-invariant distance and information measures," Physica A: Statistical Mechanics and its Applications, Elsevier, vol. 547(C).
    2. Nurulkamal Masseran, 2022. "Power-law behaviors of the severity levels of unhealthy air pollution events," Natural Hazards: Journal of the International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, Springer;International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, vol. 112(2), pages 1749-1766, June.
    3. Adam Csuvar & Robert Barna, 2020. "Econometric Analysis of Residential Trash Incineration Based on Cross-Sectional Data," European Research Studies Journal, European Research Studies Journal, vol. 0(4), pages 771-784.
    4. Di Wu & Haotian Zheng & Qing Li & Ling Jin & Rui Lyu & Xiang Ding & Yaoqiang Huo & Bin Zhao & Jingkun Jiang & Jianmin Chen & Xiangdong Li & Shuxiao Wang, 2022. "Toxic potency-adjusted control of air pollution for solid fuel combustion," Nature Energy, Nature, vol. 7(2), pages 194-202, February.
    5. Ma, Xiaotian & Zhang, Tianzuo & Ji, Changxing & Zhai, Yijie & Shen, Xiaoxu & Hong, Jinglan, 2021. "Threats to human health and ecosystem: Looking for air-pollution related damage since 1990," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 145(C).
    6. Eakins, John & Sirr, Gordon & Power, Bernadette, 2023. "Informally sourced solid fuel use: Examining its extent and characteristics of the users in the residential sector in Ireland," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 172(C).
    7. O'Shea, Richard & Lin, Richen & Wall, David M. & Browne, James D. & Murphy, Jerry D, 2020. "Using biogas to reduce natural gas consumption and greenhouse gas emissions at a large distillery," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 279(C).

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