Abstract
We present an overview of the concentrations and distributions of water-soluble ion species and elemental components in ambient particulate matter for five measurement sites in southern Italy with the aim of investigating the influence of the different site characteristics on PM levels. The sites encompass different characteristics, ranging from urban to coastal and high-altitude remote areas. PM10 and PM2.5 fractions were collected simultaneously using dual channel samplers during the winter period from November 2015 to January 2016 and analyzed for water-soluble ion species, using ion chromatography, and elemental composition, using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). In all sites, PM2.5 represented the higher contribution to particulate mass, usually more than two times that of the coarse fraction (PM2.5−10). At the coastal site in Capo Granitola (Western Sicily), sea salts constituted about 30% of total PM10 mass. On average, ion species accounted for 30% to 60% of total PM10 mass and 15% to 50% of PM2.5 mass. We found that secondary ion species, i.e., SO42−, NO3− and NH4+ dominated the identifiable components within both PM2.5 and PM10 fractions. The chlorine–sodium ratio was usually lower than that expected from the natural level in sea salt, evidencing aged air masses. At the monitoring site in Naples, a highly urbanized area affected by high levels of anthropogenic source emissions, an increased contribution of ammonium was found, which was imputed to the increased ammonia emissions from industrial combustion sources and road traffic. The concentrations of the investigated elements showed noteworthy differences from one site to another. The PM10 fraction was highly enriched by sources of anthropogenic origin in the samples from the most urbanized areas. In general, the enrichment factors of the elements were similar between the PM10 and PM2.5 fractions, confirming common sources for all elements.
Highlights
Aerosol particles are key components of the atmospheric system and affect clouds, rainfall and circulation, and air quality, the environment and human health
We present an overview of the concentrations and distributions of water-soluble ion species and elemental components in ambient particulate matter for five measurement sites in southern Italy with the aim of investigating the influence of the different site characteristics on PM levels
In the supplementary information, the main statistics are reported together with other parameters derived from the ion balance, for example, sea salt concentration, the quantity of the ions derived from sea salt and the charge balance
Summary
Aerosol particles are key components of the atmospheric system and affect clouds, rainfall and circulation, and air quality, the environment and human health. Napoli San Marcellino, an urban site that was not initially included in the I-AMICA project, joined the field campaign to add specific information on aerosol particles in strongly urbanized areas All of these sites are located in southern Italy at an average inter-site distance of about 300 km, except for the Lamezia Terme and Monte Curcio sites, which are relatively close at a distance of about 50 km. This is the most problematic period in southern Italy, when numerous exceedances for atmospheric particulate matter occur, especially in urban areas [2] To our knowledge, this was the first time that a comparative and in-depth analysis of PM content was performed for these sites, exploring the contribution of different transport and ageing processes. Curcio belongs to the Global Mercury Observation System (GMOS) network, which is dedicated to the monitoring of atmospheric mercury levels
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