Characterization of particulate matter sources in an urban environment

Sci Total Environ. 2008 Aug 15;401(1-3):81-9. doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2008.03.008. Epub 2008 May 16.

Abstract

Daily time series measurements of elements or compounds are widely used to apportion the contribution of specific sources of particulate matter concentration in the atmosphere. We present results obtained for the urban area of Genoa (Italy) based on several hundred of PM10, PM2.5 and PM1 daily samples collected in sites with different geo-morphological and urbanization characteristics. Elemental concentrations of Na to Pb were obtained through Energy Dispersive X-Ray Fluorescence (ED-XRF), and the contributions of specific sources of particulate matter (PM) concentration were apportioned through Positive Matrix Factorization (PMF). By sampling at different sites we were able to obtain, in each PM fraction, the average and stable values for the tracers of specific sources, in particular traffic (Cu, Zn, Pb) and heavy oil combustion (V, Ni). We could also identify and quote the contamination of anthropogenic PM in "natural" sources (sea, soil dust). Sampling at several sites in the same urban area allowed us to resolve local characteristics as well as to quote average values.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Air Movements
  • Air Pollutants / analysis*
  • Cities
  • Copper / analysis
  • Environmental Monitoring*
  • Geography
  • Italy
  • Lead / analysis
  • Metals / analysis*
  • Nickel / analysis
  • Particle Size
  • Particulate Matter / analysis*
  • Sodium / analysis
  • Spectrometry, X-Ray Emission
  • Time Factors
  • Vanadium / analysis
  • Vehicle Emissions / analysis*
  • Zinc / analysis

Substances

  • Air Pollutants
  • Metals
  • Particulate Matter
  • Vehicle Emissions
  • Vanadium
  • Lead
  • Copper
  • Nickel
  • Sodium
  • Zinc