ECOTOXICITY OF FINE AND ULTRAFINE PARTICLES RELEASED FROM BIOMASS COMBUSTION

Abstract

Air pollution is one of the most serious and intensively studied environmental problems of our time. Particulate matter (PM) air pollution has been shown to have adverse effects on human health, as well as the environment. The negative effects of pollutants can cause a wide range of health problems, from mild to serious illness to premature mortality. One of the sources of environmental pollution is biomass burning. During combustion, particles of different sizes and compositions are produced. Their formation depends on the characteristics of the fuel, the type of the combustion plant and the combustion conditions. Due to the complexity of the formation and growth of fine particles, there is a number of factors that influence the concentration, size and toxicity of fine particles. The aim of this work is to investigate the possible ecotoxic effects of PM released from biomass combustion in a log feed stove. Based on the results obtained from the acute toxicity test on Daphnia magna, a toxic effect on the aquatic environment (aquatic system) has been demonstrated in most cases. The resulting EC50 for a 24-hour exposure is 37 % and 16 % for a 48-hour exposure. The toxicity is caused mainly by PM-bounded polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs).