Abstract
In a study to differentiate between municipal refuse incinerator particles and other particles in urban air, samples were collected on Teflon and nuclepore filters in dichotomous samplers and analyzed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy dispersive X-ray spectrometry. The samples included ambient aerosol from two sites in the Philadelphia area, representing different meteorological conditions. The same samples were previously analyzed by bulk techniques including X-ray fluorescence and instrumental neutron activation analysis. Particles emitted from incinerators rich in Zn, Cl and K were clearly identified in ambient samples, both in the coarse (2.5–10 μm) and fine aerosol fraction (<2.5 μm). The contribution of incinerators emission was from zero up to 10% of the coarse aerosol mass. Similar particles that contained also Zn and Cl were observed, but they did not originate in refuse incineration. Minerals and biologicals were the most dominant components of the coarse aerosol fraction; sulfates dominate the fine fraction. One of the case studies provided evidence for the missing chlorine in the fine fraction. Apparently fine chlorides emitted from incinerators reacted with ambient sulfates to form mixed sulfates of Zn and K. Good agreement was obtained between the measured coarse aerosol mass concentration and the one estimated by electron microscopy.
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