Chemical composition and source apportionment of PM10 at an urban background site in a high–altitude Latin American megacity (Bogota, Colombia)

• Published in: Environmental pollution (1987) 2018-02, Vol.233, p.142-155
• Main Authors: Ramírez, Omar, Sánchez de la Campa, A.M., Amato, Fulvio, Catacolí, Ruth A., Rojas, Néstor Y., de la Rosa, Jesús
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Chemical composition; Megacities; PM10; PMF; Source apportionment
• ISSN: 0269-7491; 1873-6424
• DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2017.10.045

Bogota registers frequent episodes of poor air quality from high PM10 concentrations. It is one of the main Latin American megacities, located at 2600 m in the tropical Andes, but there is insufficient data on PM10 source contribution. A characterization of the chemical composition and the source apportionment of PM10 at an urban background site in Bogota was carried out in this study. Daily samples were collected from June 2015 to May 2016 (a total of 311 samples). Organic carbon (OC), elemental carbon (EC), water soluble compounds (SO42−, Cl−, NO3−, NH4+), major elements (Al, Fe, Mg, Ca, Na, K, P) and trace metals (V, Cd, Pb, Sr, Ba, among others) were analyzed. The results were interpreted in terms of their variability during the rainy season (RS) and the dry season (DS). The data obtained revealed that the carbonaceous fraction (∼51%) and mineral dust (23%) were the main PM10 components, followed by others (15%), Secondary Inorganic Compounds (SIC) (11%) and sea salt (0.4%). The average concentrations of soil, SIC and OC were higher during RS than DS. However, peak values were observed during the DS due to photochemical activity and forest fires. Although trace metals represented