Particle Size Distributions and Elemental Composition of Atmospheric Particulate Matter in Southern Italy

Abstract

Three 2-wk seasonal field campaigns were performed in 2003 and 2004 at a sampling site on the southern Tyrrhenian coast of Italy with the aim to investigate the dynamics and characteristics of particle-bound pollutants in the Mediterranean area. Fine (PM 2.5 ) and coarse particulate matter (PM 10 -2.5 ) size fractions were collected by a manual dichotomous sampler on 37-mm Teflon filters over a 24-hr sampling period. On average, 70% of the total PM 10 (PM 2.5 ϩ PM 10 -2.5 ) mass was associated with the coarse fraction and 30% with the fine fraction during the three campaigns. The ambient concentrations of Pb, Ni, Cr, Zn, Mn, V, Cd, Fe, Cu, Ca, and Mg associated with both size fractions were determined by atomic absorption spectrometry. Ambient concentrations showed differences in their absolute value, ranging from few ng ⅐ m Ϫ3 to g ⅐ m Ϫ3

Characterization of summertime coarse particulate matter in the Desert Southwest—Arizona, USA

“…Possible sources of crustal material within the basin included dust from paved highways and roads, unpaved roads, agricultural fields, arid desert land, earth moving, plowing or harvesting activities, and mining. This is consistent with current knowledge of PMc sources (Sprovieri and Pirrone, 2008;Begum et al, 2010;Cheung et al, 2012;Kassomenos et al, 2012;Kumar et al, 2012). Many of these sources can contribute to particle entrainment of soil-related material into the atmosphere during monsoon wind events.…”

“…Much more work has gone into studying the health effects of fine particles because they have been linked to adverse human health effects (Dockery and Pope, 1994;Schwartz, 1994;EPA, 2009), and PMf often constitutes the largest fraction of PM 10 in urban areas (Stolzel et al, 2005;Stone et al, 2011;Kassomenos et al, 2012). More recently, adverse human health effects have been associated with the coarse particles (Castillejos et al, 2000;Mar et al, 2000;Lipsett et al, 2006;Graff et al, 2009), which has implications for more rural environments where the PMc mass fraction is often 50-70% of PM 10 (Ostro et al, 1999;Sprovieri and Pirrone, 2008;Sprovieri et al, 2011). The concern is even greater for the Pinal County area where the PMc mass fraction is often 80-90% of PM 10 (EPA, 2012).…”

Chemical Composition of Aerosol Size Fractions at a Coastal Site in Southwestern Italy: Seasonal Variability and Transport Influence

“…[36][37][38] This is due to a greater occurrence of natural aerosol sources in southern Italy during the springsummer seasons. 39,40 As reported in recent studies, 41-44 the highest PM 10 values recorded over the Mediterranean area occur during the warmer seasons, and are generally correlated with anticyclonic conditions [45][46][47][48][49][50] that favor the re-buildup of particles, particularly the advection of Saharan dust. 51,52 In the winter season, the typical meteorological conditions in the central Mediterranean basin are influenced by the presence of cyclones, the remixing of air masses and the reinforcement of winds.…”

Effects of particulate matter (PM10, PM2.5 and PM1) on the cardiovascular system

“…Furthermore, particle composition and concentration are extremely changeable and depend on many factors such as climate variations, emission sources, and geographical position. Intriguingly, its composition may change on a daily basis and even during the same day (Cyrys et al, 2003;Chow et al, 2002;Osornio-Vargas et al, 2003;Rodríguez et al, 2004;Ariola et al, 2006;Becker et al, 2005;Sunder Raman et al, 2007;Bell et al, 2007a;Sprovieri and Pirrone, 2008;Perrino et al, 2008). A recent study in the Italian city of Genoa on the concentration and composition of the elements in the various fractions of PM (PM 10 , PM 2.5 and PM 1 ) has reported that the lightest elements are more concentrated in the fractions with a smaller diameter and that sulphur is the most relevant component in all fractions (Ariola et al, 2006).…”