Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Identification of PM10 Sources in a Mediterranean Island

  • Published:
Water, Air, & Soil Pollution: Focus

Abstract

Due to the dry Mediterranean climate in Cyprus, particulate matter is resuspended from soils and other surfaces. From November 2002 to August 2003, gravimetric PM10 measurements were carried out at three characteristic sites (traffic, residential and rural). A significant seasonal trend with high winter concentrations was observed at the traffic site. Special events, e.g. long-range transport of Sahara dust storms, were recorded over traffic, residential and rural areas in the order of six to eight events per year, with a major frequency in summer and spring periods. This contributes to the increase of 24-h EU limit value exceedances for PM10 at the three investigated sites. The origin of the PM10 load was determined by enrichment factors based on analyses of the local soil deposition at the investigated sites. Furthermore, positive matrix factorisation modelling was applied to find the sources of PM10. Results indicate that the major emission sources affecting the PM10 load were mineral soil, sea salt, road dust, oil combustion, secondary pollutants and gasoline vehicles. The natural contribution (local mineral soil and sea salt) at the three sites was in the range of 7–9 μg m−3 in PM10. Besides the Sahara dust storms and natural background concentrations, the vehicular pollution was found as the largest contributor (12–14 μg m−3) to PM10 load at the traffic site.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Achilli, M., Zoboli, A., Gács, I., De Robertis, U., & Bianchi, A. (1995). Speciation of selected minor and major elements in oil ash I. Operationally defined chemical associations and aqueous speciation. Water, Air, and Soil Pollution, 93, 285–302.

    Google Scholar 

  • Alastuey, A., Querol, X., Castillo, S., Escudero, M., Avila, A., & Cuevas, E. (2005). Characterisation of TSP and PM2.5 at Izaña and Sta. Cruz de Tenerife (Canary Islands, Spain) during a Saharan Dust Episode (July 2002). Atmospheric Environment, 39, 4715–4728.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Artíñano, B., Querol, X., Salvador, P., Rodríguez, S., Alonso, D., & Alastuey, A. (2001). Assessment of airborne particulate levels in Spain in relation to the new EU Directive. Atmospheric Environment, 35, 43–53.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bardouki, H., Liakakou, H., Economou, C., Sciare, J., Smolik, J., & Ždímal, V. (2003). Chemical composition of size resolved atmospheric aerosols in the Eastern Mediterranean during summer and winter. Atmospheric Environment, 37, 195–208.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Baumann, K., Jayanty, R. K. M., & Flanagan, J. B. (2008). Fine particulate matter source apportionment fort he chemical speciation trends network site at Birmingham, Alabama, using Positive Matrix Factorization. Journal of Air & Waste Management Association, 58, 27–44.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Baumbach, G., & Pfeiffer, H. (2004). Preliminary assessment of ambient air quality in Cyprus. UNOPS project. Final report. Institute of Process Engineering and Power Plant Technology, Universitaet Stuttgart.

  • Bergametti, G., Gomes, L., Coudé-Gaussen, G., Rognon, P., & Le Coustumer, M. N. (1989). African dust observed over Canary Islands: Source regions identification and transport pattern for some summer situation. Journal of Geophysical Research, 94, 14855–14864.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Carrasco, M. A., & Prendez, M. (1991). Element distribution of some soils of continental Chile and the Antarctic Peninsula, projection to atmospheric pollution. Water, Air, and Soil Pollution, 57–58, 713–722.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • CEN (1998). Air quality—Determination of the PM10 fraction of suspended particulate matter—Reference method and field test procedure to demonstrate reference equivalence of measurement methods. Brussels, EN 12341:1998.

  • Chen, L. W. A., Watson, J. G., Chow, J. C., & Magliano, K. L. (2007). Quantifying PM2.5 source contributions for the San Joaquin Valley with multivariate receptor models. Environmental Science and Technology, 41, 2818–2826.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Chester, R., Nimmo, M., Alarcon, M., Saydam, C., Murphy, K. J. T., Sanders, G. S., et al. (1993). Defining the chemical character of aerosols from the atmosphere in the Mediterranean sea and surrounding regions. Oceanologica Acta, 16, 231–246.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Danalatos, D., & Glavas, S. (1999). Gas phase nitric acid, ammonia and related particulate matter at a Mediterranean coastal site, Patras, Greece. Atmospheric Environment, 33, 3417–3425.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Dayan, U., & Levy, I. (2005). The influence of meteorological conditions and atmospheric circulation types on PM10 and visibility in Tel Aviv. Journal of Applied Meteorology, 44, 606–619.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Drautz, S. (2003). Quellenzuordnung mittels PM10 Immissionsuntersuchungen an ausgewählten Standorten in Zypern. Diplomarbeit No. 2725, Institute of Process Engineering and Power Plant Technology, Universitaet Stuttgart.

  • Duedall, I. W., & Weyl, P. K. (1967). The partial equivalent volumes of salts in seawater. Limnology and Oceanography, 12(1), 52–59.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Eberly, S. (2005). EPA PMF 1.1 User’s guide unofficially distributed non-peer-reviewed release for beta testing; available with PMF software (eberly.shelly@epa.gov).

  • EC (1999). Directive 1999/30/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 22 April 1999 to limit values for SO2, NO2 and NOx, particulate matter and lead in ambient air. Official Journal of the European Communities, No. L163, 29.6.1999, pp. 41, Brussels.

  • EC (2000). European Commission. Position Paper. Final Version, October 2000. Ambient Air Pollution by As, Cd and Ni Compounds. Working Group on As, Cd and Ni Compounds. DG Environment, EC, pp. 361.

  • Garasopoulos, E., Kouvarakis, G., Babasakalis, P., Vrekoussis, M., Putaud, J. P., & Mihalapoulos, M. (2006). Origin and variability of particulate matter (PM10) mass concentrations over the Eastern Mediterranean. Atmospheric Environment, 40, 4679–4690.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Geological Survey Department, Cyprus. Retrieved from http://www.cyprus.gov.cy/moa.

  • Harrison, R. M., Smith, D. J. T., & Luhana, L. (1996). Source apportionment of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons collected from an urban location in Birmingham, UK. Environmental Science and Technology, 30, 825–832.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Herut, B., Nimmo, M., Medway, A., Chester, R., & Krom, M. D. (2001). Dry atmospheric inputs of trace metals at the Mediterranean coast of Israel (SE Mediterranean): sources and fluxes. Atmospheric Environment, 35, 803–813.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hidy, G. M. (1984). Aerosol—An industrial and environmental science. London: Academic.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hildemann, L. H., Markowshi, G. R., & Cass, G. R. (1991). Chemical composition of emissions from urban sources of fine organic aerosol. Environmental Science and Technology, 25, 744–759.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Karaca, F., Alagha, O., & Erturk, F. (2005). Statistical characterisation of atmospheric PM10 and PM2.5 concentrations at a non-impacted suburban site of Istanbul, Turkey. Chemosphere, 59, 1183–1190.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kleanthous, S., Bari, M. A., Baumbach, G., & Sarachage-Ruiz, L. (2008). Influence of particulate matter on the air quality situation in a Mediterranean island. Atmospheric Environment. doi:10.1016/j.atmosenv.2008.06.025.

  • Koçak, M., Kubilay, N., & Mihalopoulos, N. (2004). Ionic composition of the lower tropospheric aerosols in a NE Mediterranean site: Implication regarding sources and long-range transport. Atmospheric Environment, 38, 2067–2077.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Koçak, M., Mihalopoulos, N., & Kubilay, N. (2007). Contributions of natural sources to high PM10 and PM2.5 events in the Eastern Mediterranean. Atmospheric Environment, 41, 3806–3818.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lazaridis, M., Dzumbova, L., Kopanakis, I., Ondracek, J., Glytsos, T., Aleksandropoulou, V., et al. (2008). PM10 and PM2.5 levels in the Eastern Mediterranean (Akrotiri research station, Crete, Greece). Water, Air, and Soil Pollution, 189, 85–101.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lewis, C. W., Norris, G. A., Conner, T. L., & Henry, R. C. (2003). Source apportionment of Phoenix PM2.5 aerosol with the unmix receptor model. Journal of Air & Waste Management Association, 53, 325–338.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lucarellia, F., Mandoa, P. A., Navaa, S., Valerioa, M., Prati, P., & Zucchiatti, A. (2000). Elemental composition of urban aerosol collected in Florence, Italy. Environmental Monitoring and Assessment, 65, 165–173.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Luria, M., Peleg, M., Sharf, G., Tov-Alper, D. S., Spitz, N., & Ben Ami, Y. (1996). Atmospheric sulfur over the east Mediterranean region. Journal of Geophysical Research, 101D, 917–930.

    Google Scholar 

  • Manoli, E., Voutsa, D., & Samara, C. (2002). Chemical characterization and source identification/apportionment of fine and coarse air particles in Thessaloniki, Greece. Atmospheric Environment, 36, 949–961.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Millán, M. M., Salvador, R., Mantilla, E., & Kallos, G. (1997). Photooxidant dynamics in the Mediterranean basin in summer: Results from European research projects. Journal of Geophysical Research, 102D, 8811–8824.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Miranda, J., Andrade, E., Lopez-Suarez, A., Ledesma, R., Cahill, T. A., & Wakabayashi, P. H. (1996). A receptor model for atmospheric aerosols from a south western site in Mexico city. Atmospheric Environment, 30, 3471–3479.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Mouli, P. C., Mohan, S. V., & Reddy, S. J. (2003). A study on major inorganic ion composition of atmospheric aerosols at Tirupati. Journal of Hazardous Materials, B96, 217–228.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Paatero, P. (1997). Least squares formulation of robust non-negative factor analysis. Chemometrics and Intelligent Laboratory Systems, 37, 23–35.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Parekth, P. P., Ghauri, B., & Hussain, L. (1989). Identification of pollution sources of anomalously enriched elements. Atmospheric Environment, 23, 435–442.

    Google Scholar 

  • Polissar, A. V., Hopke, P. K., Paatero, P., Malm, W. C., & Sisler, J. F. (1998). Atmospheric aerosol over Alaska 2. Elemental composition and sources. Journal of Geophysical Research, 103D, 19045–19057.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Querol, X., Alastuey, A., Rodríguez, S., Plana, F., Mantilla, E., & Ruiz, C. R. (2001a). Monitoring of PM10 and PM2.5 around primary particulate anthropogenic emission sources. Atmospheric Environment, 35, 845–858.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Querol, X., Alastuey, A., Rodríguez, S., Plana, F., Ruiz, C. R., Cots, N., et al. (2001b). PM10 and PM2.5 source apportionment in the Barcelona Metropolitan area, Catalonia, Spain. Atmospheric Environment, 35, 6407–6419.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Querol, X., Alastuey, A., Rosa, J., Campa, A., Plana, F., & Ruiz, C. R. (2002). Source apportionment analysis of atmospheric particulates in an industrialised urban site in southwestern Spain. Atmospheric Environment, 36, 3113–3125.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Querol, X., Alastuey, A., Viana, M. M., Rodriguez, S., Artíñano, B., Salvador, P., et al. (2004). Speciation and origin of PM10 and PM2.5 in Spain. Journal of Aerosol Science, 35, 1151–1172.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Rodríguez, S., Querol, X., Alastuey, A., & Plana, F. (2002). Sources and processes affecting levels and composition of atmospheric aerosol in the Western Mediterranean. Journal of Geophysical Research, 107D, 4777. doi:10.1029/2001JD001488.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Rodríguez, S., Querol, X., Alastuey, A., & Rosa, J. (2007). Atmospheric particulate matter and air quality in the Mediterranean: A review. Environmental Chemistry Letter, 5, 1–7.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sabbioni, C. (1995). Contribution of atmospheric deposition to the formation of damage layers. Science of the Total Environment, 167, 49–55.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Samara, C., Kouimtzis, Th., & Katsoulos, G. (1994a). Characterization of airborne particulate matter in Thessaloniki, Greece. Part II: A multivariate modeling approach for the source apportionment of heavy metal concentrations within total suspended particles. Toxicological and Environmental Chemistry, 41, 221–232.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Schneider, J., Borrmann, S., Wollny, A. G., Blasner, M., Mihalopoulos, N., Oikonomou, K., et al. (2004). Online mass spectrometric aerosol measurements during the MINOS campaign (Crete, August 2001). Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics, 4, 65–80.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sciare, J., Bardouki, H., Moulin, C., & Mihalopoulos, N. (2003). Aerosol sources and their contribution to the chemical composition of aerosols in the Eastern Mediterranean Sea during summertime. Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics, 3, 291–302.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Swietlichki, E., Puri, S., Hansson, H. C., & Edner, H. (1996). Urban air pollution source apportionment using a combination of aerosol and gas monitoring techniques. Atmospheric Environment, 30, 2795–2809.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Thurston, G. D., & Spengler, J. D. (1985). A quantitative assessment of source contribution to inhalable matter pollution in metropolitan Boston. Atmospheric Environment, 19, 9–25.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Viana, M., Querol, X., Alastuey, A., Cuevas, E., & Rodríguez, S. (2002). Influence of African dust on the levels of atmospheric particulars in the Canary Islands air quality network. Atmospheric Environment, 36, 5861–5875.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Viana, M., Chi, X., Maenhaut, W., Querol, X., Alastuey, A., Mikuska, P., et al. (2006). Organic and elemental carbon concentrations in carbonaceous aerosols during summer and winter sampling campaigns in Barcelona, Spain. Atmospheric Environment, 40, 2180–2193.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Watson, J. G., Chow, J. C., Lu, Z., Fujita, E. M., Lowenthal, D. H., & Lawson, D. R. (1994). Chemical mass balance source apportionment of PM10 during the Southern California air quality study. Aerosol Science and Technology, 21, 1–36.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Yay, O. D., & Tuncel, G. (2001, September). Projection of soil data to source assessment for atmospheric aerosols. Proceedings of the Second International Symposium on Air Quality Management at Urban, Regional and Global Scales, Istanbul, Turkey, pp. 45–462.

  • Yuanxun, Z., Yuanmao, Z., Yingsong, W., Delu, L., Yan, L., Guilin, Z., et al. (2006). PIXE characterization of PM10 and PM2.5 particulate matter collected during the winter season in Shanghai city. Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry, 267, 497–499.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

The study was done as a part of the project ‘Preliminary Assessment of Ambient Air Quality in Cyprus’ carried out by the Institute of Process Engineering and Power Plant Technology, Department of Air Quality Control of the Universitaet Stuttgart in co-operation with the Greek Cypriot Community (GCC) and the Turkish Cypriot Community (TCC). This study was supported by the US Agency for International Development (USAID) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) under coordination of the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS). The authors wish to thank all the funding organisations, the staff members of the Universitaet Stuttgart, Medisell Co Ltd and all GCC and TCC participants who were incorporated in this study.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Air Quality Control, Institute of Process Engineering and Power Plant Technology (IVD), Universitaet Stuttgart, Pfaffenwaldring 23, 70569, Stuttgart, Germany

    Md. Aynul Bari, Günter Baumbach & Leire Sarachage-Ruiz

  2. Department of Labour Inspection, Ministry of Labour and Social Insurance, Nicosia, Cyprus

    Savvas Kleanthous

Authors
  1. Md. Aynul Bari
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Günter Baumbach
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Leire Sarachage-Ruiz
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Savvas Kleanthous
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Md. Aynul Bari.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Bari, M.A., Baumbach, G., Sarachage-Ruiz, L. et al. Identification of PM10 Sources in a Mediterranean Island. Water Air Soil Pollut: Focus 9, 39–53 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11267-008-9194-6

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11267-008-9194-6

Keywords

Search

Navigation