Abstract
The French West Indies are periodically affected by North African dust episodes (NADE) resulting in PM10 concentrations exceeding air quality standards. The aim of the present study was to decipher the PM10 chemical profile during NADE over Guadeloupe. PM10 samples were collected daily at a rural site and an urban site during five episodes between April and October in 2017. During these events, the median PM10 mass concentrations were, on average, 2 to 5 times higher than in the post-episode baseline period. Sampled filters were analyzed for their quantification of chemical constituents including carbonaceous fractions (elemental and organic carbon, EC/OC), anions/cations and levoglucosan, 51 elements, and 57 selected organic species. An orthogonal partial least squares discriminant analysis (OPLS-DA) was conducted to identify the specific chemical profile of PM10 during NADE: 16 elements were identified as the most discriminant between the NADE and the control samples with mass concentration levels twice as high during a NADE. Among them, only two (Mn and V) are classified as emerging pollutant while no limit values exist for the other ones. The extensive characterization of the NADE PM10 chemical profile we performed is a key step to assess the chemical exposure of French West Indies populations during such events.
Highlights
IntroductionThe French West Indies are periodically affected by African dust episodes (ADE) from northern Africa or western Africa [1]
As their neighboring countries, the French West Indies are periodically affected by African dust episodes (ADE) from northern Africa or western Africa [1]
The aim of the present study was to decipher the exposure of the Guadeloupean population to chemical compounds and microbiological agents of PM10 related to North African dust event samples (NADEs)
Summary
The French West Indies are periodically affected by African dust episodes (ADE) from northern Africa or western Africa [1]. When the InterTropical Convergence Zone is installed, the warm air masses of the northern and southern hemispheres converge and rise in altitude (typically up to 5–7 km), carrying desert dust particles over long distances across the Atlantic Ocean with the trade winds (1.5 to 3.7 km in height) and reaching the Caribbean one to two weeks after leaving the African coast [3,4,5,6] Some of these particles deposit during the transport, but the convection of the lower atmospheric layers is sufficient to maintain a significant quantity of them above the trade wind. Particles with a median aerodynamic diameter ≤10 μm (PM10) are the most likely deposited in the bronchi and affecting respiratory tract (bronchitis, asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, etc.), while fine particles with an aerodynamic diameter ≤2.5 μm (PM2.5) are more likely to reach the pulmonary alveoli, causing systemic inflammation leading to cardiovascular effects [9]
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