Abstract
The present study was carried out between May and June 2012 in the city of Cuernavaca, Mexico. During this time the average ambient temperatures were about 25°C, suggesting the formation of secondary aerosols, consisting mainly of ammonium and sulfate. The average PM2.5 concentration was 37 μg·m-3 for the entire urban area and there were only two days which exceeded the limit established by the official standards for periods of 24 h. The most abundant ionic species associated with PM2.5 were sulfates (3634.82 ng·m-3, average) and ammonium (1709.53 ng·m-3, average). The ratio estimated between total anions and total cations indicated that the concentration of total anions was 1.94 times total cations. The contribution percentage of the ionic species associated with PM2.5 revealed that 76% of the PM2.5 is sulfates and ammonium. The ion balance made for the urban area of Cuernavaca indicated that during the study period, the aerosols showed alkaline characteristics; that is to say the concentration of anions was not sufficient to neutralize the cations, specifically ammonia (m = 0.060). Finally, wind fields showed that during the study the winds came in 50% from the south west, followed by 25% from east and 12.5% of the south east, which in part allowed transport of contaminants into the portion of the city, where the AUSM campus site was located.
Highlights
The study of atmospheric aerosols has become important in recent years due to their influence on the global climate directly by scattering or absorption of solar radiation and indirectely by altering cloud microphysics and the water cycle
The South West (SW) trajectory prevailed from May 18 to June 30 (50%), it suggests that air masses are transporting some contaminants from the Centro site (SW), to the north of the city where the anthropogenic activities are important; the Autonomous University of the State of Morelos (AUSM) site is located in this direction
The results obtained suggest that the PM2.5 concentration is very homogeneous in Cuernavaca
Summary
The study of atmospheric aerosols has become important in recent years due to their influence on the global climate directly by scattering or absorption of solar radiation and indirectely by altering cloud microphysics and the water cycle. They influence atmospheric chemistry and cause negative effects on human health [1]-[7]. In order to contribute to environmental improvement in the state, the government has been promoting and supporting environmental studies aimed at the development of diagnostics of the ambient levels of some pollutants considered of high risk to human health and the environment. This study was developed which aims to identify the chemical composition of particulate matter (PM2.5), and to serve as a precedent for further research
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