Samples of organic aerosol were collected in Santiago de Chile. An activated-charcoal diffusion denuder was used to strip out organic vapors prior to particle collection. Both polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and aliphatic hydrocarbons were determined using gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS). Organic particle sources were resolved using both concentration diagnostic ratios and multivariate methods such as hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA) and factor analysis (FA). Four factors were identified based on the loadings of PAHs and n-alkanes and were attributed to the following sources: (1) high-temperature combustion of fuels; (2) fugitive emissions from oil residues; (3) biogenic sources; and (4) unburned fuels. Multilinear regression (MLR) analysis was used to determine emission profiles and contributions of the sources. The reconstructed concentrations of particle phase aliphatic and polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons were in good agreement (R2 > 0.70) with those measured in Santiago de Chile.

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Chile is a fast-growing country with important industrial activities near urban areas. In this study, the mass and elemental concentrations of PM 10 and PM 2.5 were measured in five major Chilean urban areas. Samples of particles with diameter less than 10 µm (PM 10 ) and 2.5 µm (PM 2.5 ) were collected in 1998 in Iquique (northern Chile), Valparaíso, Viña del Mar, Rancagua (central Chile), and Temuco (southern Chile). Both PM 10 and PM 2.5 annual mean concentrations (PM 10 : 56.9-77.6 µg/m 3 ; PM 2.5 : 22.4-42.6 µg/m 3 ) were significantly higher than the corresponding European Union (EU) and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) air quality standards. Moreover, the 24-hr PM 10 and PM 2.5 U.S. standards were exceeded infrequently for some of the cities (Rancagua and Valparaíso). IMPLICATIONSA source apportionment study was conducted in five Chilean cities. Both PM 10 and PM 2.5 annual mean concentrations in all five cities were significantly higher than the ambient air quality standards established by the World Health Organization, EU, and the EPA. Consequently, populations residing in these areas are exposed to high particle concentrations that may pose significant health effects. The major sources of coarse particles were soil and sea salt particles. Sources of fine particle mass included automobiles, wood and agricultural waste burning, Cu smelters, and oil refineries. The use of multivariate statistical methods on PM 10 and PM 2.5 mass and elemental concentrations provides information on their sources. The results of these studies can be used to assess the risk of air pollution and to develop cost-effective control strategies.

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