Characterization and source identification of respirable particulate matter in Athens,Greece

Twenty-seven samples of respirable particulate matter (RP) were collected in central Athens during the summer of 1987. The samples were analyzed for the concentration SO₄²⁻ and NO₃⁻ (collected with Teflon and nylon filters and analyzed by ion-chromatography); organic and elemental carbon (collected on quartz fiber filters and analyzed with a thermo-optical method); and 20 elements (collected on Teflon filters and analyzed by proton-induced X-ray emission spectroscopy). Simultaneously collected samples for SO₂ and HNO₃ were also evaluated (collected with annular denuders and analyzed by ion-chromatography). T The average RP concentration measured was 80.7 μg m⁻³, well above the USEPA annual standard for PM₁₀ aerosol. In addition, high levels of organic (16.9 μg m⁻³) and elemental carbon (4.2 μg m⁻³) were found. Correlations between aerosol carbon and Br, Pb, NO and NMHC (all > 0.8) confirm that gasoline and diesel powered vehicles are one of the major sources of pollution in the region. Correlations between RP and Al, Si, K, Ca and Fe also suggest that soil aerosols contribute to the high RP concentrations. Enrichment factors for the RP samples relative to the composition of soil in the Athens basin indentify major contributions from vehicles (Pb and Br) and industrial operations (S, Ti, Mn, Fe, Ni, Cu, Zn). Based on these results, a Chemical Mass Balance receptor model was applied to each of the 27 samples and the contributions to RP from soil (4.5 %), vehicles (20.3 %), steel industries (4.6. %) and cement plant emissions (3.2 %) estimated. Other major components of the RP were SO₄²⁻ (13.0 %) and organic carbon from non-vehicle and industrial sources (15.5 %).