Contribution of anthropogenic and natural sources in PM10 during North African dust events in Southern Europe

María Millán-Martínez; Daniel Sánchez-Rodas; Ana M Sánchez de la Campa; Jesús de la Rosa

doi:10.1016/j.envpol.2021.118065

Contribution of anthropogenic and natural sources in PM10 during North African dust events in Southern Europe

Environ Pollut. 2021 Dec 1:290:118065. doi: 10.1016/j.envpol.2021.118065. Epub 2021 Aug 28.

Authors

María Millán-Martínez¹, Daniel Sánchez-Rodas², Ana M Sánchez de la Campa³, Jesús de la Rosa⁴

Affiliations

¹ Associate Unit CSIC-University of Huelva "Atmospheric Pollution", Center for Research in Sustainable Chemistry - CIQSO, University of Huelva, E21071, Huelva, Spain; Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Experimental Sciences, University of Huelva, Campus El Carmen s/n, 21071, Huelva, Spain. Electronic address: maria.millan@dqcm.uhu.es.
² Associate Unit CSIC-University of Huelva "Atmospheric Pollution", Center for Research in Sustainable Chemistry - CIQSO, University of Huelva, E21071, Huelva, Spain; Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Experimental Sciences, University of Huelva, Campus El Carmen s/n, 21071, Huelva, Spain.
³ Associate Unit CSIC-University of Huelva "Atmospheric Pollution", Center for Research in Sustainable Chemistry - CIQSO, University of Huelva, E21071, Huelva, Spain; Department of Mining, Mechanic, Energetic and Construction Engineering, ETSI, University of Huelva, 21071, Huelva, Spain.
⁴ Associate Unit CSIC-University of Huelva "Atmospheric Pollution", Center for Research in Sustainable Chemistry - CIQSO, University of Huelva, E21071, Huelva, Spain; Department of Earth Science, Faculty of Experimental Sciences, University of Huelva, Campus El Carmen s/n, 21071, Huelva, Spain.

PMID: 34523517
DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2021.118065

Abstract

The influence of North African (NAF) dust events on the air quality at the regional level (12 representative monitoring stations) in Southern Europe during a long time series (2007-2014) was studied. PM10 levels and chemical composition were separated by Atlantic (ATL) and NAF air masses. An increase in the average PM10 concentrations was observed on sampling days with NAF dust influence (42 μg m^-3) when compared to ATL air masses (29 μg m^-3). Major compounds such as crustal components and secondary inorganic compounds (SIC), as well as toxic trace elements derived from industrial emissions, also showed higher concentrations of NAF events. A source contribution analysis using positive matrix factorisation (PMF) 5.0 of the PM10 chemical data, discriminating ATL and NAF air mass origins, allowed the identification of five sources: crustal, sea salt, traffic, regional, and industrial. A higher contribution (74%) of the natural sources to PM10 concentrations was confirmed under NAF episodes compared with ATL. Furthermore, there was an increase in anthropogenic sources during these events (51%), indicating the important influence of the NAF air masses on these sources. The results of this study highlight that environmental managers should take appropriate actions to reduce local emissions during NAF events to ensure good air quality.

Keywords: North African dust; PM10; Source contribution; Southern Europe.

MeSH terms

Air Pollutants* / analysis
Dust* / analysis
Environmental Monitoring
Europe
Particle Size
Particulate Matter / analysis

Substances

Air Pollutants
Dust
Particulate Matter