Detailed individual particle characterization of PM10, in terms of particle size, morphology, and elemental composition, was done using scanning electron microscopy combined with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. The samples were collected in four localities in the Czech Republic (Central Europe), three of which are medium-sized cities, and one is a natural locality in the mountains. More than 1600 particles obtained from each locality were evaluated. During the sampling period (1.9.-8.9.2019), the atmospheric conditions were similar in the localities, which enabled the identification of PM10 characteristics common to all the sampling sites. Some differences in the particles' morphology and composition, arising from site-specific conditions, were observed too. The most abundant elements in the PM10 were C, O, Si, Fe, Al, Ca, Na, K, Mg, and S, but some toxic elements (Cr, Cu, and Ni) were also detected. The main component of the PM10 is carbon, whose multimodal distribution indicates that the particles contain different carbonaceous chemical compounds. The distribution of carbon in the natural locality was different compared to the other sites, suggesting a specific character of the sources of carbonaceous compounds in this region. Last but not least, a relationship between Al, Si, and O concentrations was found, which implies the presence of aluminosilicates and silicon dioxide (possibly sand) of crustal origin in the particles.
Keywords: Air pollution; Elemental composition; Energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy; Morphology; Particulate matter; Scanning electron microscopy; Single particle analysis.
© 2022. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.