Identification of PM₁₀ Sources in a Mediterranean Island

Bari, Md Aynul; Baumbach, Günter; Sarachage-Ruiz, Leire; Kleanthous, Savvas

Identification of PM₁₀ Sources in a Mediterranean Island

2009

Bari, Md Aynul | Baumbach, Günter | Sarachage-Ruiz, Leire | Kleanthous, Savvas

Due to the dry Mediterranean climate in Cyprus, particulate matter is resuspended from soils and other surfaces. From November 2002 to August 2003, gravimetric PM₁₀ measurements were carried out at three characteristic sites (traffic, residential and rural). A significant seasonal trend with high winter concentrations was observed at the traffic site. Special events, e.g. long-range transport of Sahara dust storms, were recorded over traffic, residential and rural areas in the order of six to eight events per year, with a major frequency in summer and spring periods. This contributes to the increase of 24-h EU limit value exceedances for PM₁₀ at the three investigated sites. The origin of the PM₁₀ load was determined by enrichment factors based on analyses of the local soil deposition at the investigated sites. Furthermore, positive matrix factorisation modelling was applied to find the sources of PM₁₀. Results indicate that the major emission sources affecting the PM₁₀ load were mineral soil, sea salt, road dust, oil combustion, secondary pollutants and gasoline vehicles. The natural contribution (local mineral soil and sea salt) at the three sites was in the range of 7-9 μg m⁻³ in PM₁₀. Besides the Sahara dust storms and natural background concentrations, the vehicular pollution was found as the largest contributor (12-14 μg m⁻³) to PM₁₀ load at the traffic site.

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