Abstract
Dust storm is a common phenomenonand, a severe environmental hazard in western Saudi Arabia. In this study, simultaneous measurement of PM_(10), PM_(2.5) and PM_(1.0) and elemental compositions analysis of PM_(2.5) in Jeddah city during springtime (March 2012) dust storm (DS) and non-dust storm (non-DS) periods were carried out to investigate the impact of DS on the levels, characterization and elemental compositions of atmospheric particles. Results indicate that PM fractions concentrations were higher in DS environment compared to non-DS. The diurnal variation of PM fractions concentrations was uni-modal in non-DS environment and bimodal in DS. PM_(1.0)/PM_(10), PM_(2.5)/PM_(10) and PM_(2.5)/PM_(2.5-10) ratios were relatively lower in DS, indicating that sand-dust events in spring carry much more coarse than fine particles to Jeddah. PM_(10), PM_(2.5) and PM_(1.0) in DS and PM_(10) and PM_(2.5) in non-DS might originate from similar sources. PM_(10), PM_(2.5), PM_(1.0) in DS and PM_(10) in non-DS were correlated negatively with relative humidity and positively with wind speed. PM_(2.5) and PM_(1.0) in non-DS were correlated positively with relative humidity and negatively with wind speed. The crustal elements accounted for 44.62 and 67.53% of the total concentrations of elements in non-DS and DS, respectively. The elements concentrations increased in DS, with highest DS/non-DS ratios for Ca, Si, Al and Fe. This indicates that the soil originating species contributed mainly in DS particles. The enrichment factors values and non-crustal fractions in both non-DS and DS indicate that the main sources of Na, Mg, Si, K, Ca, Ti, Cr, Mn, Fe, Rb and Sr are of a crustal type, whereas S, Cl, Co, Cu, Zn, Ga, As, Pb and Cd are anthropogenic. V and Ni in DS only are emitted from anthropogenic sources. The enrichment factors of these anthropogenic elements were lower in DS. They might originate mainly from local sources in Jeddah.
Highlights
Atmospheric aerosol is a complex mixture of anthropogenic and natural origin
The diurnal variation of particulate matter (PM) fractions concentrations was uni-modal in non-dust storm (DS) environment and bimodal in DS
PM1.0/PM10, PM2.5/PM10 and PM2.5/PM2.5–10 ratios were relatively lower in DS than nonDS, indicating that sand-dust events in spring carry more coarse than fine particles to Jeddah
Summary
Atmospheric aerosol is a complex mixture of anthropogenic and natural origin. Industrial activities, energy production, construction, urban waste treatment and vehicle exhausts constitute anthropogenic sources of particulate matter (PM) in the atmosphere (Bilos et al, 2001). Main sources of natural atmospheric PM are dust storm (DS), volcanic activities and oceans. Nine regions contribute to the total global production of desert dust. These regions include North Africa (Sahara), South Africa, the Arabian Peninsula, Central Asia, Western China, Eastern China, North America, South America and Australia (Prospero et al, 2002; Tanaka and Chiba, 2006). Precipitation, vegetation cover, wind velocity, and soil particle size of dust-generating sources are the main factors influencing the amount of dust inthe atmosphere (Ta et al, 2004)
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