Size resolved metal distribution in the PM matter of the city of Turin (Italy)

• Evaluation of urban air quality by determination of various atmospheric pollutants.
• Different behaviours for elements depending on PM size distribution were identified.
• A scarce correlation between O3, NOx and VOCs and metals in PM was observed.
• PM metals, NOx and VOC respond differently to particular weather phenomena.
• Airborne pollutants are subject to different transformation and deposition processes.

A work on the characterization of the air quality in the city of Turin was carried out in different sampling periods, reflecting early autumn and winter conditions, including a snow episode during the early 2012 European cold wave.The concentrations of 13 elements in eight size fractions of the aerosol were determined using inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry. The collection was carried out with a Andersen MkII cascade impactor.The size distribution of elements allowed the identification of three main behavioural types: (a) elements associated with coarse particles (Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Mo and Sn); (b) elements found within fine particles (As, Co, Pb and V) and (c) elements spread throughout the entire size range (Ni and Zn).Principal Component Analysis allowed to examine the relationships between the inorganic elements and to infer about their origin. Chemometric investigation and assessment of similarity in the distribution led to similar conclusions on the sources.The concentration of gaseous trace pollutants (O3, NOx and VOCs) was determined. The concentrations of these pollutants are scarcely correlated with the metal contents of all the size classes of the PM. The differences found in the O3, NO2 and VOCs levels of the two winter campaigns due to the high photochemical reactivity in the period after the snow episode, do not reflect in differences in the metals distribution in the PM. Since PM metals, NOx and VOC have common sources, this behaviour is due to relevant differences in the transformation and deposition processes.