Improved source assessment of Si, Al and related mineral components to PM10based on a daily sampling procedure

Samples obtained from an industrialized valley in the East Alpine region were collected daily for a half year and analyzed using X-rayfluorescence to examine the elements Si, Al, Fe, Ca, Mg, Na, K, Zn, P, S and Cl. Some factors a ecting the changes of these elementswere considered, including time, elemental correlations, weekday, weekend and seasonal changes. Diagnostic analysis provided aninsight into a decoupling behavior that occursin siliceous and carbonates minerals. A decrease in Si and Al and an increase in carbonates,Na, K, Zn and P were observed during the cold season. However, a consistently high correlation of Si and Al was observed in allseasons. It was established that such high levels originated from street surface abrasion. The increase in variability and absolute levelsof carbonates during the cold season was demonstrated by adding carbonates to the street surface as gritting material to increase thegrip on snowy surfaces. A marked increase in Na and Cl was observed in winter which may have been caused by thaw salt that iswidely used in winter in Austria. This was associated with a significant increase in K, Zn, and P in the cold season that was the resultof domestic space heating with wood. PM10 levels in December were 12 g/m3 and were higher than levels detected in July. It wasestablished that such high levels originated from mineral oxides, wood smoke, and inorganic ionic material(s).