Impact of terephthalic acid emissions from intensive nocturnal biomass incineration on oxidative potential in Seoul, South Korea

This study investigated the impact of large-scale incineration facilities on PM2.5 levels in Seoul during winter. Due to the challenge of obtaining accurate combustion data from external sources, heat supply records were used as a proxy for combustion activity. To assess health risks, dithiothreitol-oxidative potential (DTT-OP) was analyzed to identify potential hazards to human health. By comparing DTT-OP with PM2.5 sources related to combustion, the study aimed to understand the impact of local pollution sources on human health in Seoul. The diurnal analysis showed that oxidative potential (0.19 μM/m3) and the biomass burning factor (5.53 μg/m3) peaked between 4:00 and 8:00 AM, with lower levels observed from 12:00 to 20:00. A significant correlation was found between combustion sources and oxidative potential, with a high correlation coefficient (r2 = 0.92). The presence of terephthalic acid (TPA) in the Cellulose combustion source profile, which is produced by the pyrolysis of plastics like polyester fiber and polyethylene terephthalate (PET), further supported the link to emissions from incineration facilities. These findings suggest that the biomass burning source is strongly correlated with DTT-OP, indicating a significant association with health risks among various local sources of PM2.5 in Seoul.