An exploratory characterisation of the carbon and stable isotope composition of atmospheric particulate matter from opencast coal mining activities and adjacent communities

Abstract

Standard source apportionment techniques for atmospheric particulate (PM) collected near opencast coal mines using inorganic markers only are limited by the similarity in the mineral components in the overburden and at adjacent residential locations. This study explores the use of the stable carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) isotope ratios (13C/12C and 15N/14N) and thermal optical methods to differentiate sources of carbonaceous material in the atmospheric PM samples from the opencast coal mines and adjacent communities. Results show isotopic and OC/EC ratio differences between atmospheric PM samples from the opencast coal mines and communities, although distinguishing between the contributions of coal combustion, liquid fuel combustion and the domestic use of biomass requires further analysis.