Elemental concentration and source identification of PM10 and PM2.5 by SR-XRF in Córdoba, Argentina.

MARIA L. LÓPEZ; SERGIO CEPPI; GUSTAVO G. PALANCAR; LUIS E. OLCESE; GERMAN TIRAO; BEATRIZ M. TOSELLI

PERGAMON-ELSEVIER SCIENCE LTD

Año: 2011 p. 5450 - 5450

24-h samplings of PM10 and PM2.5 have been carried out during the period July 2009eApril 2010 at anurban and at a semi-urban site of Córdoba City (Argentina). The samples in the PM2.5 fraction weighted inthe average 71 21 mgm3 and 67 18 mgm3 respectively, whereas the samples of the same sites in thePM10 fraction weighted 107 31 mg m3 and 101 14 mg m3. The chemical composition of aerosolparticles was determined by synchrotron radiation X-ray fluorescence (SR-XRF). Elemental compositionwas different in the two fractions: in the finer one the presence of elements with crustal origin is reduced,while the anthropogenic elements, with a relevant environmental and health impact, appear to beincreased. An important but unmeasured component is likely constituted by organic and elemental carboncompounds. Multivariate analysis (Positive Matrix Factorization) of the SR-XRF data resolved a number ofcomponents (factors) which, on the basis