Mass levels, crustal component and trace elements in PM10 in Palermo, Italy

Results concerning the levels and elemental compositions of daily PM10 samples collected at four air quality monitoring sites in Palermo (Italy) are presented. The highest mean value of PM10 concentrations (46 μg m−3, with a peak value of 158 μg m−3) was recorded at the Di Blasi urban station, and the lowest at Boccadifalco station (25 μg m−3), considered as a sub-urban background station. Seventeen elements (Al, As, Ba, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Li, Mn, Mo, Ni, Pb, Sb, Sr, U, V, Zn) were measured by ICP-MS. Al and Fe showed the highest concentrations, indicating the significant contribution of soil and resuspended mineral particles to atmospheric PM10. Ba, Cr, Cu, Mn, Mo, Ni, Pb, Sb, V and Zn had higher concentrations at the three urban sampling sites than at the sub-urban background station. Besides soil-derived particles, an R-mode cluster analysis revealed a group of elements, Mo, Cu, Cr, Sb and Zn, probably related to non-exhaust vehicle emission, and another group, consisting of Ba, As and Ni, which seemed to be associated both with exhaust emissions from road traffic, and other combustion processes such as incinerators or domestic heating plants. The results also suggest that Sb, or the association Sb–Cu–Mo, offers a way of tracing road traffic emissions.