Contribution of biomass burning to atmospheric polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons at three European background sites

Radiocarbon analysis of atmospheric polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) from three background areas in Sweden, Croatia, and Greece was performed to apportion their origin between fossil and biomass combustion. Diagnostic ratios of PAHs implied that wood and coal combustion was relatively more important in the northern European site, while combustion of fossil fuels was the dominant source of PAHs to the two central-southern European background sites. The radiocarbon content (delta14C) of atmospheric PAHs in Sweden ranged between -388 per thousand and -381 per thousand, while more depleted values were observed for Greece (-914 per thousand) and Croatia (-888 per thousand). Using a 14C isotopic mass balance model it was calculated that biomass burning contributes nearly 10% of the total PAH burden in the studied southern European atmosphere with fossil fuel combustion making up the 90% balance. In contrast, biomass burning contributes about 50% of total PAHs in the atmosphere at the Swedish site. Our results suggest that the relative contributions of biomass burning and fossil fuels to atmospheric PAHs may differ considerably between countries, and therefore, different national control strategies might be needed if a further reduction of these pollutants is to be achieved on a continental-global scale.     

Chemical characteristics and origins of nitrogen-containing organic compounds in PM2.5 aerosols in the Lower Fraser Valley

Some nitrogen-containing organic compounds (NOCs) in PM2.5 aerosols in forest, tunnel, urban, rural, and mixed forest/ urban areas in the Lower Fraser Valley (LFV), British Columbia, Canada, were measured to assess their chemical characteristics, temporal and spatial distributions, and origins. The levels of E-caprolactam, isoindole-1,3-dione, benzothiazolone, and N-butyl-benzensulfonamide showed significant differences among the sites, with the highest level at the mixed forest/urban site, indicating that aerosols at this site were impacted by chemical manufacturing activities. N,N-diethyl-m-toluamide (deet) was detected at all locations but was highest in the forest area, demonstrating a widespread usage as an insect repellent in the LFV and at camps at the forest site. Alkyl amides, tracers from wood burning and cooking, ranging from C6 to C20 including two unsaturated amides, hexadecenamide, and 9-octa-decenamide, were detected at all sites. Three patterns of carbon number distributions of alkyl amides varied with location and time, and were mainly impacted by biomass burning or cooking compared to levoglucosan and cholesterol in the LFV. Ratio of oleamide to stearamide (C18:1/C18:0) was discussed as a potential indicator for determining "age" or transport range of biomass combustion plumes.     

NOx and N2O precursors from biomass pyrolysis: nitrogen transformation from amino acid

Large quantities of NO(x) and N(2)O emissions can be produced from biomass burning. Understanding nitrogen behavior during biomass pyrolysis is crucial. Nitrogen in biomass is mainly in forms of proteins (amino acids). Phenylalanine, aspartic acid, and glutamic acid were used as the model compounds for the nitrogen in biomass. Release behavior tests of nitrogen species from the three amino acids during pyrolysis in argon and gasification with O(2) and CO(2) were performed using a thermogravimetric analyzer (TGA) coupled with a Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectrometer. The results indicate that although the influence of oxygen and CO(2) in the atmosphere on nitrogen behavior is different for the amino acids, it is interesting to find some phenomenon in common. The presence of oxygen promotes NO and HNCO formation for all the three amino acids; HCN and HNCO formation are suppressed by introduced CO(2) for all the three amino acids. This can reveal the N-conversion mechanism from biomass in depth under the same conditions.     

Mercury emissions from biomass burning in China

Biomass burning covers open fires (forest and grassland fires, crop residue burning in fields, etc.) and biofuel combustion (crop residues and wood, etc., used as fuel). As a large agricultural country, China may produce large quantities of mercury emissions from biomass burning. A new mercury emission inventory in China is needed because previous studies reflected outdated biomass burning with coarse resolution. Moreover, these studies often adopted the emission factors (mass of emitted species per mass of biomass burned) measured in North America. In this study, the mercury emissions from biomass burning in China (excluding small islands in the South China Sea) were estimated, using recently measured mercury concentrations in various biomes in China as emission factors. Emissions from crop residues and fuelwood were estimated based on annual reports distributed by provincial government. Emissions from forest and grassland fires were calculated by combining moderate resolution imaging spectroradiometer (MODIS) burned area product with combustion efficiency (ratio of fuel consumption to total available fuels) considering fuel moisture. The average annual emission from biomass burning was 27 (range from 15.1 to 39.9) Mg/year. This inventory has high spatial resolution (1 km) and covers a long period (2000-2007), making it useful for air quality modeling.     

Molecular characteristics of urban organic aerosols from Nanjing: a case study of A mega-city in China

Over 90 organic species have been determined in fine aerosols (PM2.5) collected during the summer and winter in Nanjing, a typical mega-city in China, using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The organic compounds detected were apportioned to four emission sources (i.e., plant emission, fossil fuel combustion, biomass burning, and soil resuspension) and secondary oxidation products. The most abundant classes of compounds are fatty acids, followed by sugars, dicarboxylic acids excluding oxalic and malonic acids, and n-alkanes, while alcohols, polyols/polyacids and lignin/sterols are less abundant. Total amounts of the seven classes of compounds were on average 938 ng m(-3) in the summer and 1301 ng m(-3) in the winter, respectively, contributing 0.26-1.96% of particle mass (PM2.5). In the summer, n-alkanes were heavily enhanced by vegetation emissions with a maximum carbon number (Cmax) at C29, whereas they were dominated by emissions from fossil fuels combustion with a Cmax at C22/ C23 in the winter. Concentrations of unsaturated fatty acids were lower in the summer than in the winter, being consistent with enhanced photooxidation of unsaturated fatty acids in the summer. Concentrations of dicarboxylic acids for the summer aerosols were much higher in the daytime than in the nighttime, indicating increased photochemical production in the daytime. In the summer, plant emissions were the most significant source of organic aerosols, contributing more than 33% of total compound mass (TCM), followed by fossil fuel combustion or secondary oxidation. In contrast, fossil fuel combustion was the dominant source of winter organic aerosols, contributing more than 51% of TCM, followed by plant emissions and secondary oxidation products. The quantitative results on sugars and lignin pyrolysis products further suggested that biomass burning and soil resuspension are also significant sources of urban organic aerosols.     

Effect of 2,4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic Acid (2,4-D) on PCDD/F Emissions from Open Burning of Biomass

To understand the effect of leaf-surface pesticides on emissions of PCDD/F during biomass burns, nine combustion experiments simulating the open burning of biomass were conducted. Needles and branches of Pinus taeda (Loblolly pine) were sprayed with the pesticide 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) at 1 and 10 times the manufacturer's recommended application concentration. The biomass was then dried overnight, burned in an open burn test facility, and emission samples were collected, analyzed, and compared against emission samples from burning untreated biomass. Blank tests and analysis of PCDD/F in the raw biomass were also performed. Emission results from burning a water-sprayed control show a ～20-fold increase in PCDD/F levels above that of the raw biomass alone, implicating combustive formation versus simple volatilization. Results from burns of pine branches sprayed with pesticide showed a statistically significant increase in the PCDD/F TEQ emissions when burning biomass at ten times the recommended pesticide concentration (from 0.22 to 1.14 ng TEQ/kg carbon burned (C(b)), both ND = 0). Similarly, a 150-fold increase in the total PCDD/F congener mass (tetra- to octa-chlorinated D/F) above that of the control was observed (from 52 to 7800 ng/kg C(b)), confirming combustive formation of PCDD/F from 2,4-D. More replicate testing is needed to evaluate effects at lower pesticide concentrations.     

Stable carbon isotope ratio analysis of anhydrosugars in biomass burning aerosol particles from source samples

A new method for stable carbon isotope ratio analysis of anhydrosugars from biomass burning aerosol particle source filter samples was developed by employing Thermal Desorption--2 Dimensional Gas Chromatography--Isotope Ratio Mass Spectrometry (TD-2DGC-IRMS). Compound specific isotopic measurements of levoglucosan, mannosan, and galactosan performed by TD-2DGC-IRMS in a standard mixture show good agreement with isotopic measurements of the bulk anhydrosugars, carried out by Elemental Analyzer--Isotope Ratio Mass Spectrometry (EA-IRMS). The established method was applied to determine the isotope ratios of levoglucosan, mannosan, and galactosan from source samples collected during combustion of hard wood, softwood, and crop residues. δ(13)C values of levoglucosan were found to vary between -25.6 and -22.2‰, being higher in the case of softwood. Mannosan and galactosan were detected only in the softwood samples showing isotope ratios of -23.5‰ (mannosan) and -25.7‰ (galactosan). The isotopic composition of holocellulose in the plant material used for combustion experiments was determined with δ(13)C values between -28.5 and -23.7‰. The difference in δ(13)C of levoglucosan in biomass burning aerosol particles compared to the parent fuel holocellulose was found to be -1.89 (±0.37)‰ for the investigated biomass fuels. Compound specific δ(13)C measurements of anhydrosugars should contribute to an improved source apportionment.     

Atmospheric emission of reactive nitrogen during biofuel ethanol production

This paper evaluates emissions to the atmosphere of biologically available nitrogen compounds in a region characterized by intensive sugar cane biofuel ethanol production. Large emissions of NH3 and NOx, as well as particulate nitrate and ammonium, occur at the harvest when the crop is burned, with the amount of nitrogen released equivalent to approximately 35% of annual fertilizer-N application. Nitrogen oxides concentrations show a positive association with fire frequency, indicating that biomass burning is a major emission source, with mean concentrations of NOx doubling in the dry season relative to the wetseason. During the dry season biomass burning is a source of NH3, with other sources (wastes, soil, biogenic) predominant during the wet season. Estimated NO2-N, NH3-N, NO3- -N and NH4+ -N emission fluxes from sugar cane burning in a planted area of ca. 2.2 x 10(6) ha are 11.0, 1.1, 0.2, and 1.2 Gg N yr(-1), respectively.     

Methyl-nitrocatechols: atmospheric tracer compounds for biomass burning secondary organic aerosols

Detailed chemical analysis of wintertime PM?? collected at a rural village site in Germany showed the presence of a series of compounds that correlated very well with levoglucosan, a known biomass burning tracer compound. Nitrated aromatic compounds with molecular formula C?H?NO? (M(w) 169) correlated particularly well with levoglucosan, indicating that they originated from biomass burning as well. These compounds were identified as a series of methyl-nitrocatechol isomers (4-methyl-5-nitrocatechol, 3-methyl-5-nitrocatechol, and 3-methyl-6-nitrocatechol) based on the comparison of their chromatographic and mass spectrometric behaviors to those from reference compounds.Aerosol chamber experiments suggest that m-cresol, which is emitted from biomass burning at significant levels, is a precursor for the detected methyl-nitrocatechols. The total concentrations of these compounds in the wintertime PM??were as high as 29 ng m?3, indicating the secondary organic aerosol (SOA) originating from the oxidation of biomass burning VOCs contributed non-negligible amounts to the regional organic aerosol loading.     

Emission factors, size distributions, and emission inventories of carbonaceous particulate matter from residential wood combustion in rural China

Published emission factors (EFs) often vary significantly, leading to high uncertainties in emission estimations. There are few reliable EFs from field measurements of residential wood combustion in China. In this study, 17 wood fuels and one bamboo were combusted in a typical residential stove in rural China to measure realistic EFs of particulate matter (PM), organic carbon (OC), and elemental carbon (EC), as well as to investigate the influence of fuel properties and combustion conditions on the EFs. Measured EFs of PM, OC, and EC (EF(PM), EF(OC), and EF(EC), respectively) were in the range of 0.38-6.4, 0.024-3.0, and 0.039-3.9 g/kg (dry basis), with means and standard derivation of 2.2 ± 1.2, 0.62 ± 0.64, and 0.83 ± 0.69 g/kg, respectively. Shrubby biomass combustion produced higher EFs than tree woods, and both species had lower EFs than those of indoor crop residue burning (p < 0.05). Significant correlations between EF(PM), EF(OC), and EF(EC) were expected. By using a nine-stage cascade impactor, it was shown that size distributions of PM emitted from tree biomass combustions were unimodal with peaks at a diameter less than 0.4 μm (PM(0.4)), much finer than the PM from indoor crop residue burning. Approximately 79.4% of the total PM from tree wood combustion was PM with a diameter less than 2.1 μm (PM(2.1)). PM size distributions for shrubby biomasses were slightly different from those for tree fuels. On the basis of the measured EFs, total emissions of PM, OC, and EC from residential wood combustion in rural China in 2007 were estimated at about 303, 75.7, and 92.0 Gg.     

Hygroscopicity of water-soluble organic compounds in atmospheric aerosols: amino acids and biomass burning derived organic species

Amino acids and organic species derived from biomass burning can potentially affect the hygroscopicity and cloud condensation activities of aerosols. The hygroscopicity of seven amino acids (glycine, alanine, serine, glutamine, threonine, arginine, and asparagine) and three organic species most commonly detected in biomass burning aerosols (levoglucosan, mannosan, and galactosan) were measured using an electrodynamic balance. Crystallization was observed in the glycine, alanine, serine, glutamine, and threonine particles upon evaporation of water, while no phase transition was observed in the arginine and asparagine particles even at 5% relative humidity (RH). Water activity data from these aqueous amino acid particles, except arginine and asparagine, was used to revise the interaction parameters in UNIQUAC functional group activity coefficients to give predictions to within 15% of the measurements. Levoglucosan, mannosan, and galactosan particles did not crystallize nor did they deliquesce. They existed as highly concentrated liquid droplets at low RH, suggesting that biomass burning aerosols retain water at low RH. In addition, these particles follow a very similar pattern in hygroscopic growth. A generalized growth law (Gf = (1 - RH/100)-0.095) is proposed for levoglucosan, mannosan, and galactosan particles.     

Lignin-derived phenols in Houston aerosols: implications for natural background sources

Solvent-extractable monomeric methoxyphenols in aerosol samples conventionally have been used to indicate the influence of biomass combustion. In addition, the presence of lignin oxidation products (LOP), derived from the CuO oxidation of vascular plant organic matter, can help trace the source and inputs of primary biological particles in aerosols. Ambient aerosols (coarse and fine) collected in Houston during summer 2010 were analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry to characterize monomeric and polymeric sources of LOPs. This is the first time polymeric forms of the LOPs have been characterized in ambient aerosols. The absence or small concentrations of solvent-extractable monomeric LOPs and levoglucosan isomers point to the limited influence of biomass burning during the sampling period. The trace levels of anhydrosugar concentrations most likely result from long-range transport. This observation is supported by the absence of co-occurring lignin monomers that undergo photochemical degradation during transport. The larger concentration (142 ng m(-3)) of lignin polymers in coarse aerosols shows the relative importance of primary biological aerosol particles, even in the urban atmosphere. The LOP parameters suggest a predominant influence from woody tissue of angiosperms, with minor influence from soft tissues, gymnosperms, and soil organic matter.     

Measurement of emissions from air pollution sources. 3. C1-C29 organic compounds from fireplace combustion of wood

Organic compound emission rates for volatile organic compounds (VOC), gas-phase semivolatile organic compounds, and particle-phase organic compounds are measured from residential fireplace combustion of wood. Firewood from a conifer tree (pine) and from two deciduous trees (oak and eucalyptus) is burned to determine organic compound emissions profiles for each wood type including the distribution of the alkanes, alkenes, aromatics, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH), phenol and substituted phenols, guaiacol and substituted guaiacol, syringol and substituted syringols, carbonyls, alkanoic acids, resin acids, and levoglucosan. Levoglucosan is the major constituent in the fine particulate emissions from all three wood types, contributing 18-30% of the fine particulate organic compound emissions. Guaiacol (2-methoxyphenol), and guaiacols with additional substituents at position 4 on the molecule, and resin acids are emitted in significant quantities from pine wood combustion. Syringol (2,6-dimethoxyphenol) and syringols with additional substituents at position 4 on the molecule are emitted in large amounts from oak and eucalyptus firewood combustion, but these compounds are not detected in the emissions from pine wood combustion. Syringol and most of the substituted syringols are found to be semivolatile compounds that are present in both the gas and particle phases, but two substituted syringols that have not been previously quantified in wood smoke emissions, propionylsyringol and butyrylsyringol, are found exclusively in the particle phase and can be used to help trace hardwood smoke particles in the atmosphere. Benzene, ethene, and acetylene are often used as tracers for motor vehicle exhaust in the urban atmosphere. The contribution of wood smoke to the ambient concentrations of benzene, ethene, and acetylene could lead to an overestimate of the contribution of motor vehicle tailpipe exhaust to atmospheric VOC concentrations.     

Emissionen bei der Verbrennung von Holzspanplattenresten

Formation of environmental molesting compounds by combustion of particleboard residues is influenced by chemical composition of fuel and completeness of combustion process. Emission problems are discussed by using result of comparing burning experiments with wood and various particleboard residues. Most residues can be burnt without significant environmental problems if combustion is complete. Incomplete combustion can generate compounds with high toxic potential.     

Wintertime organic aerosols in Christchurch and Auckland, New Zealand: contributions of residential wood and coal burning and petroleum utilization

Wintertime PM10 samples from two New Zealand cities (Christchurch and Auckland) have been characterized using gas chromatography - mass spectrometry for biomass burning tracers, hopanes, n-alkanes, fatty acids, n-alkanols and sugars. The aerosol samples of Christchurch, which were heavily influenced by residential wood and coal burning, showed substantially higher ambient concentrations for most of the organic compounds than those of Auckland, where major sources of aerosols were vehicular emissions and sea-salt. Mass ratios between the biomass burning tracers studied were found to be significantly different (e.g., beta-sitosterol to nssK+ ratios were more than three times higher in Christchurch than in Auckland), although levoglucosan to nssK+ ratios were similar at the both sites. We also estimated, for the first time using stereochemical configurations of hopanes, that 60% of fossil fuel emissions came from petroleum utilization with the remaining 40% being from coal burning in Christchurch. In contrast, contribution of coal burning was negligible in Auckland. Moreover, contributions of most biomass burning tracers to organic carbon (OC) were significantly higher in Christchurch than in Auckland. On the other hand, saccharides (excluding levoglucosan) and hopanes accounted for larger fractions of OC in Auckland. This study demonstrates that intensive wood and coal burning can significantly affect organic aerosol composition in an urban environment.     

Dispersion modeling of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons from combustion of biomass and fossil fuels and production of coke in Tianjin, China

A USEPA, procedure, ISCLT3 (Industrial Source Complex Long-Term), was applied to model the spatial distribution of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) emitted from various sources including coal, petroleum, natural gas, and biomass into the atmosphere of Tianjin, China. Benzo[a]pyrene equivalent concentrations (BaPeq) were calculated for risk assessment. Model results were provisionally validated for concentrations and profiles based on the observed data at two monitoring stations. The dominant emission sources in the area were domestic coal combustion, coke production, and biomass burning. Mainly because of the difference in the emission heights, the contributions of various sources to the average concentrations at receptors differ from proportions emitted. The shares of domestic coal increased from approximately 43% at the sources to 56% at the receptors, while the contributions of coking industry decreased from approximately 23% at the sources to 7% at the receptors. The spatial distributions of gaseous and particulate PAHs were similar, with higher concentrations occurring within urban districts because of domestic coal combustion. With relatively smaller contributions, the other minor sources had limited influences on the overall spatial distribution. The calculated average BaPeq value in air was 2.54 +/- 2.87 ng/m3 on an annual basis. Although only 2.3% of the area in Tianjin exceeded the national standard of 10 ng/m3, 41% of the entire population lives within this area.     

Novel catalytic activity of nitrile hydratase from Rhodococcus sp. N771

Nitrile hydratase (NHase) from Rhodococcus sp. N771 is a non-heme iron enzyme catalyzing the hydration of various nitriles to the corresponding amides. We report a novel catalytic activity of NHase. When NHase was incubated with an large excess of commercially available isovaleronitrile, the charge transfer band from the sulfur ligand to the Fe atom shifted from 710 nm to 820 nm, but recovered within 4 min. Similar UV-Vis absorption changes were observed after the addition of isobutylisonitrile (iBuNC), a major impurity in commercially available isovaleronitrile, suggesting that NHase catalyzes the conversion of iBuNC to other compounds. The reaction product was identified as isobutylamine (iBuNH(2)) by liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry. NHase also converts t-butylisonitrile and 1,1,3,3,-tetramethylbutylisonitrile to the corresponding amines. Kinetic analysis of the conversion of iBuNC to iBuNH(2) showed a K(m) value comparable to that for nitriles, while the V(max) value was more than 10(5) times smaller than that for methacrylonitrile. This is the first report suggesting that NHase is a bifunctional enzyme catalyzing a reaction other than the hydration of nitriles.     

Levoglucosan and other cellulose markers in pyrolysates of Miocene lignites: geochemical and environmental implications

Using the pyrolysis-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry and off-line pyrolysis/silylation methods for lignites from three Miocene brown coal basins of Poland resulted in the characterization of many organic compounds, including dominant cellulose degradation products such as levoglucosan, 1,6-anhydro-beta-D-glucofuranose, and 1,4:3,6-dianhydroglucopyranose. Levoglucosan is a general source-specific tracer for wood smoke in the atmosphere and recent sediments. The presence of unusually high levels of this compound in brown coal pyrolysates suggests that a portion of this compound concentration in some airsheds may originate from lignite combustion. On the other hand, nonglucose anhydrosaccharides, in particular, mannosan and galactosan, typical of hemicellulose, are not detected in those lignite pyrolysates investigated. This indicates that mannosan and galactosan are better specific tracers for combustion of contemporary biomass in those regions were the utilization of brown coals containing fossilized cellulose is important.     

Source apportionment of molecular markers and organic aerosol. 2. Biomass smoke

Chemical mass balance analysis was performed using a large dataset of molecular marker concentrations to estimate the contribution of biomass smoke to ambient organic carbon (OC) and fine particle mass in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Source profiles were selected based on detailed comparisons between the ambient data and a large number of published profiles. The fall and winter data were analyzed with fireplace and woodstove source profiles, and open burning profiles were used to analyze the spring and summer data. At the upper limit, biomass smoke is estimated to contribute on average 520+/-140 ng-C m(-3) or 14.5% of the ambient OC in the fall, 210+/-85 ng-C m(-3) or 10% of the ambient OC in the winter, and 60 + 21 ng-C/m(-3) or 2% of the ambient OC in the spring and summer. In the fall and winter, there is large day-to-day variability in the amount of OC apportioned to biomass smoke. The levels of biomass smoke in Pittsburgh are much lower than in some other areas of the United States, indicating significant regional variability in the importance of biomass combustion as a source of fine particulate matter. The calculations face two major sources of uncertainty. First, the ambient ratios of levoglucosan, resin acids, and syringhaldehyde concentrations are highly variable implying that numerous sources with distinct source profiles contribute to ambient marker concentrations. Therefore, in contrast to previous CMB analyses, we find that at least three distinct biomass smoke source profiles must be included in the CMB model to explain this variability. Second, the marker-to-OC ratios of available biomass smoke profiles are highly variable. This variability introduces uncertainty of more than a factor of 2 in the amount of ambient OC apportioned to biomass smoke by different statistically acceptable CMB solutions. The marker-to-OC ratios of source profiles are critical parameters to consider when evaluating CMB solutions.     

Emission factors and importance of PCDD/Fs, PCBs, PCNs, PAHs and PM10 from the domestic burning of coal and wood in the U.K

This paper presents emission factors (EFs) derived for a range of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) when coal and wood were subject to controlled burning experiments, designed to simulate domestic burning for space heating. A wide range of POPs were emitted, with emissions from coal being higher than those from wood. Highest EFs were obtained for particulate matter, PM10, (approximately 10 g/kg fuel) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (approximately 100 mg/ kg fuel for sigmaPAHs). For chlorinated compounds, EFs were highest for polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), with polychlorinated naphthalenes (PCNs), dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs) and dibenzofurans (PCDFs) being less abundant. EFs were on the order of 1000 ng/kg fuel for sigmaPCBs, 100s ng/ kg fuel for sigmaPCNs and 100 ng/kg fuel for sigmaPCDD/Fs. The study confirmed that mono- to trichlorinated dibenzofurans, Cl1,2,3DFs, were strong indicators of low temperature combustion processes, such as the domestic burning of coal and wood. It is concluded that numerous PCB and PCN congeners are routinely formed during the combustion of solid fuels. However, their combined emissions from the domestic burning of coal and wood would contribute only a few percent to annual U.K. emission estimates. Emissions of PAHs and PM10 were major contributors to U.K. national emission inventories. Major emissions were found from the domestic burning for Cl1,2,3DFs, while the contribution of PCDD/F-sigmaTEQ to total U.K. emissions was minor.