Comprehensive assessment of PM10 from home heating using different appliances and biomass fuels: Chemical composition, oxidative potential, and ecotoxicity

The European Union has implemented policies to promote renewable energy, with an emphasis on biomass for heat generation. However, residential biomass combustion is a major source of particulate matter (PM10), and its chemical constituents pose health concerns worldwide. This study characterised the organic and inorganic composition, oxidative potential (OP), and ecotoxicity of PM10 indoors and outdoors during the operation of two heating appliances fuelled with different types of biomasses: a modern hydronic stove and a traditional wood stove. PM10 concentrations were higher in the room equipped with the traditional system during the combustion of briquettes (95.9 f 74.9 mu g m-3) and firewood (50.1 f 25.6 mu g m- 3), compared to the modern stove using pellets (27.1 f 11.8 mu g m-3) and olive stone (23.0 f 4.5 mu g m- 3). While element oxides accounted for similar PM10 mass fractions (7 %), the wood stove produced higher levels of organic constituents, including carbonaceous fractions, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), quinones and saccharides. Significant correlations between OP assays and concentrations of PAHs, quinones and phenolic compounds were found in the room equipped with wood stove, with indoor to outdoor (I/O) ratios higher than 1. In contrast, I/O ratios below 1 were observed for OP in PM10 samples collected during hydronic stove operation. Ecotoxicity assays using Aliivibrio fischeri classified indoor PM10 from the wood stove as 'very toxic', whereas samples from the hydronic stove exhibited lower toxicity and OP levels. These findings highlight the need to reconcile renewable energy goals with air quality and public health.

Keywords

Residential biomass burning Elements PAHs Ecotoxicity Oxidative potential PM10

URI

http://hdl.handle.net/10198/35434

Citation

Cipoli, Yago Alonso; Vicente, Estela D.; Charres, Isabella; Evtyugina, Margarita; Alfosea-Simon, Marina; Lucarelli, Franco; Kovats, Nora; Rysavy, Jirf; Feliciano, Manuel; Alves, Celia (2026). Comprehensive assessment of PM10 from home heating using different appliances and biomass fuels: Chemical composition, oxidative potential, and ecotoxicity. Atmospheric Environment. ISSN 1352-2310. 365. p. 1-15