Source Apportionment of PM2.5 and PM2.5-Bound Trace Elements in Pretoria, South Africa

• Outdoor PM2.5 samples were collected for 34 months in Pretoria, South Africa from 18 April 2017 to 28 February 2020. The average total PM2.5 concentration was 23.2 +/- 17.3 mu g.m(3) (0.69-139 mu g.m(-3)), with the highest mean recorded during winter and the lowest during summer (p < 0.05). The sources were determined by means of cross referencing the US EPA PMF 5.0 program and the NOAA HYsplit model. The sources of the total PM2.5 were mining (33%), resuspended dust (24%), industry (15%), general exhaust (12%), vehicular emissions (12%) and biomass burning (4%). Sources of air pollutants are both ubiquitous and seasonal.Highlights center dot In central Pretoria, the largest contributing sources of PM2.5 are resuspended dust matrix and mining from surrounding areas;center dot A winter analysis was run where As, Se and Pb was included in the dataset, confirming biomass burning sources which were typically higher during the winter season; and center dot Air quality management policies should address both ubiquitous and seasonal sources.

Ämnesord

NATURVETENSKAP  -- Geovetenskap och miljövetenskap -- Miljövetenskap (hsv//swe)

NATURAL SCIENCES  -- Earth and Related Environmental Sciences -- Environmental Sciences (hsv//eng)

Nyckelord

PMF

HYsplit

PM2.5

trace elements

seasonal

ubiquitous sources

Publikations- och innehållstyp

ref (ämneskategori)

art (ämneskategori)