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PM10 and PM2.5 composition over the Central Black Sea: origin and seasonal variability

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Abstract

Daily PM10 and PM2.5 samples were collected between April 2009 and July 2010 at a rural site (Sinop) situated on the coast of the Central Black Sea. The concentrations of PM10 and PM2.5 were 23.2 ± 16.7 and 9.8 ± 6.9 μg m−3, respectively. Coarse and fine filters were analyzed for Cl−, NO3 −, SO4 2−, C2O4 2−, PO4 3−, Na+, NH4 +, K+, Mg2+, and Ca2+ by using ion chromatography. Elemental and organic carbon content in bulk quartz filters were also analyzed. The highest PM2.5 contribution to PM10 was found in summer with a value of 0.54 due to enhanced secondary aerosols in relation to photochemistry. Cl−, Na+, and Mg2+ illustrated their higher concentrations and variability during winter. Chlorine depletion was chiefly attributed to nitrate. Higher nssCa2+ concentrations were ascribed to episodic mineral dust intrusions from North Africa into the region. Crustal material (31 %) and sea salt (13 %) were found to be accounted for the majority of the PM10. The ionic mass (IM), particulate organic matter (POM), and elemental carbon (EC) explained 13, 20, and 3 % of the PM10 mass, correspondingly. The IM, POM, and EC dominated the PM2.5 (~74 %) mass. Regarding EU legislation, the exceeded PM2.5 values were found to be associated with secondary aerosols, with a particular dominance of POM. For the exceeded PM10 values, six of the events were dominated by dust while two and four of these exceedances were caused by sea salt and mix events, respectively.

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Acknowledgments

The research leading to these results was received funding from the European Community’s Seventh Framework Programme (FP7/2007-2013) under grant agreement no. 212095 (CityZen) and has received funding from EC under FP7 Theme “Oceans of Tomorrow” OCEAN.2011-3 grant agreement no. 287600 (Perseus). Ersin Tutsak and Pınar Kalegeri acknowledge the support provided by TÜBİTAK (through 113Y107). Aerosol optical thickness, aerosol index, and precipitation values used in this study were produced with the Giovanni online data system, developed and maintained by the NASA GES DISC. We also acknowledge the MODIS and OMI mission scientists and associated NASA personnel for the production of the data used in this research effort. The authors express sincere gratitude to Prof. Dr. Sedat Karayücel (Sinop University, Fisheries Faculty) for his support during aerosol collection and three anonymous reviewers for their suggestions.

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The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Marine Sciences, Middle East Technical University, P.O. Box 28, 33731, Erdemli, Mersin, Turkey

    M. Koçak, E. Tutsak & P. Kalegeri

  2. Department of Chemistry, University of Crete, P.O. Box 2208, 71003, Heraklion, Crete, Greece

    N. Mihalopoulos, C. Theodosi & P. Zarmpas

  3. National Observatory of Athens, IERSD, Lofos Koufou, Penteli, Greece

    N. Mihalopoulos

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  1. M. Koçak
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  2. N. Mihalopoulos
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  3. E. Tutsak
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Correspondence to M. Koçak.

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Koçak, M., Mihalopoulos, N., Tutsak, E. et al. PM10 and PM2.5 composition over the Central Black Sea: origin and seasonal variability. Environ Sci Pollut Res 22, 18076–18092 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-015-4928-2

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