AIR POLLUTION AND DEVELOPMENT OF NORTHERN EUROPEAN SOCIETIES 1966 – 1990

Abstract

Industrialization has been one of the major influences towards the escalation of atmospheric pollutants after World War II. Metal concentrations in the atmosphere have been increased since the introduction of high-temperature processes such as fossil fuel combustion and smelting. Increased pollutants in the atmosphere have resulted in poor health and increased mortality among individuals, and degradation of the environment. This thesis characterizes aerosol concentration trends in Falsterbo, Southern Sweden, as a function of time from 1966 to 1990 and correlate the results with the meteorological data and air mass back-trajectories, including source apportionment of the elements. The analysis was divided into two parts: initial assessment of 1972 with analysis of filters from each day, and preliminary analysis of 1966 to 1990 with analysis of filters from every eighth day using Energy Dispersive X-ray Fluorescence (EDXRF). Aerosol concentrations in 1972 were analyzed using Hybrid Single-Particle Langrangian Integrated Trajectory (HYSPLIT) model to generate air mass back trajectories and determine the origin and distance of air masses entering Falsterbo, followed by Positive Matrix Factorization (PMF) analysis to determine the source apportionment of the aerosols. Concentration Weighted Trajectory (CWT) was conducted using openair function in R Studio to illustrate origin of emission. In conclusion, this study found that archived filter samples can be used for characterization of daily changes in aerosol composition in Falsterbo. Long-range air pollutants carried by air masses from Eastern and Southern Europe contribute to the local air quality. Main sources of these aerosols in 1972 were anthropogenic activities such as industrial activities, coal combustion, oil combustion, biomass burning, dust and marine aerosol. Even though various elements were present in every filter of 1972, lead (Pb) and arsenic (As) were not present in all the filters. Lastly, variation in aerosol concentration and their sources of emission can be studied in detail from 1966 to 1990 in 24-hour resolution.