title: Improved source assessment of Si, Al and related mineral components to PM10 based on a daily sampling procedure.
abstract: Samples obtained from an industrialized valley in the East Alpine region were collected daily for a half year and analyzed using X-ray fluorescence to examine the elements Si, Al, Fe, Ca, Mg, Na, K, Zn, P, S and Cl. Some factors affecting the changes of these elements were considered, including time, elemental correlations, weekday, weekend and seasonal changes. Diagnostic analysis provided an insight into a decoupling behavior that occursin siliceous and carbonates minerals. A decrease in Si and Al and an increase in carbonates, Na, K, Zn and P were observed during the cold season. However, a consistently high correlation of Si and Al was observed in all seasons. It was established that such high levels originated from street surface abrasion. The increase in variability and absolute levels of carbonates during the cold season was demonstrated by adding carbonates to the street surface as gritting material to increase the grip on snowy surfaces. A marked increase in Na and Cl was observed in winter which may have been caused by thaw salt that is widely used in winter in Austria. This was associated with a significant increase in K, Zn, and P in the cold season that was the result of domestic space heating with wood. PM10 levels in December were 12 microg/m3 and were higher than levels detected in July. It was established that such high levels originated from mineral oxides, wood smoke, and inorganic ionic material(s).
authors.affiliation: Chemical Engineering College, Ningbo University of Technology, Ningbo 315016, China. gepengv@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Ge
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Peng
authors.forename: Hans
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Puxbaum
authors.forename: Heidi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Bauer
authors.forename: Nicole
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Jankowski
authors.forename: Yao
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Shi
mesh_terms: D000393:Air Pollutants / Q000737:chemistry*; D000535:Aluminum / Q000737:chemistry*; D004777:Environment; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D008903:Minerals / Q000737:chemistry*; D010316:Particle Size; D052638:Particulate Matter / Q000737:chemistry*; D012621:Seasons; D012825:Silicon / Q000737:chemistry*; D013696:Temperature; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D000393:Air Pollutants; D008903:Minerals; D052638:Particulate Matter; D000535:Aluminum; D012825:Silicon