High-resolution, seasonal studies of carbon sources in atmospheric dust in Gliwice, using the radiocarbon method

From October 2024 to October 2025, the Gliwice Radiocarbon Laboratory is carrying out a project titled “High-resolution, seasonal studies of carbon sources in atmospheric dust using the radiocarbon method” (project number 2024/08/X/ST10/00655) funded by the National Science Centre (NCN).

The aim of the pilot study is to analyse radiocarbon concentration in atmospheric dust samples collected in Gliwice with weekly (autumn-winter) and two-week (spring-summer) resolution. Based on the results, we want to determine the seasonal contribution of different carbon emission sources.

Air pollution has a very negative impact on the human cardiorespiratory system including reducing resistance to bacterial or viral infections [1]. Particulate matter is a major contributor to overall air pollution. It consists of solid and liquid particles suspended in the atmosphere. Particularly dangerous are PM10, PM2.5 and PM1, which refers to particles smaller than 10 μm, 2.5 μm and 1 μm in diameter, respectively.

Gliwice (50°17′37.1′′ N 18°40′54.9′′ E) is located in southern Poland, within the Silesian Voivodeship in the industrial region of Upper Silesian conurbation. Upper Silesia is a densely populated and highly industrialized region of Poland. However, due to the high levels of air pollution, the Silesian region has the shortest life expectancy, as well as the highest rates of premature births and genetic birth defects in Poland [2].

Radiocarbon (¹⁴C) is one of three isotopes of carbon. It is the only one that undergoes radioactive decay (with a half-life of 5730 years), so its concentration in organic matter is closely related to its decay time. Burning fuels releases two types of carbon into the air: modern carbon (from burning biomass) and fossil carbon (from burning fossil fuels). Fossil fuels were formed from organic matter millions of years ago, so the concentration of radiocarbon in them is much lower than in biomass.

One of the methods used to determine the concentration of ¹⁴C is Accelerator Mass Spectrometry (AMS). Accelerator mass spectrometry is a highly sensitive method for counting carbon atoms and may be precise method of identifying carbon sources in atmospheric PM [3].

[1] M. Urrutia-Pereira, C. A. Mello-da-Silva, and D. Solé, COVID-19 and air pollution: A dangerous association?, Allergologia et Immunopathologia, vol. 48, no. 5, pp. 496–499, 2020, doi: 10.1016/j.aller.2020.05.004.

[2] E. Brągoszewska and A. Mainka, Impact of Different Air Pollutants (PM10, PM2.5, NO2, and Bacterial Aerosols) on COVID-19 Cases in Gliwice, Southern Poland, IJERPH, vol. 19, no. 21, p. 14181, 2022, doi: 10.3390/ijerph192114181.

[3] G. Zhang, J. Liu, J. Li, P. Li, N. Wei, and B. Xu, Radiocarbon isotope technique as apowerful tool in tracking anthropogenic emissions of carbonaceous air pollutants and greenhouse gases: A review, Fundamental Research, vol. 1, no. 3, pp. 306–316, 2021, doi: 10.1016/j.fmre.2021.03.007.