Residential solid fuel combustion and its contribution to air pollution in Hungary: A comparative study

Balogh, Boglárka Sára and Csákó, Zsofia and Nyiri, Zoltan and Berlinger, Balazs and Molnár, Mihály and Major, István and Gergely, Virág and Szigeti, Tamás (2025) Residential solid fuel combustion and its contribution to air pollution in Hungary: A comparative study. ATMOSPHERIC ENVIRONMENT, 360. No. 121399. ISSN 1352-2310

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Abstract

Residential solid fuel combustion is a significant contributor to air pollution in Hungary, particularly in rural areas. This study aimed to assess air pollution attributable to residential solid combustion by monitoring the spatial and temporal variability of PM2.5 mass concentration and other specific air pollutants. Sampling campaigns were conducted at rural and urban sites with differing heating habits, comparing heating and non-heating periods in 2020. Significant differences in air pollutant concentrations were observed between the two periods. At the rural site, the mean PM2.5 mass concentration was 1.7 times higher during the heating period compared to the urban site. Biomass burning markers (e.g. levoglucosan, potassium, organic carbon in PM2.5) showed a significant associations during the heating period. Additionally, the universal waste burning marker 1,3,5-triphenylbenzene was detected on 93% of the measurement days at the rural site during the heating period, indicating continuous waste burning. The results of 14C analysis and multiple diagnostic ratios further supported source identification. The annual target value for benzo(a)pyrene (1 ng/m3 ) was exceeded in 100% of samples collected at the rural site and 64% of samples at the urban site during the heating period. Detailed chemical analysis of PM2.5 accounted for an average of 85% of total mass. These findings highlight the urgent need for robust national and local air quality strategies to mitigate emissions from residential heating and protect public health.

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