Source Apportionment of PM2.5 in Florence (Italy) by PMF Analysis of Aerosol Composition Records

• Published in: Atmosphere 2020-05, Vol.11 (5), p.484
• Main Authors: Nava, Silvia, Calzolai, Giulia, Chiari, Massimo, Giannoni, Martina, Giardi, Fabio, Becagli, Silvia, Severi, Mirko, Traversi, Rita, Lucarelli, Franco
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Aerosol composition; Aerosol concentrations; Aerosols; Air pollution; Air sampling; Analytical methods; Apportionment; Atmospheric particulates; Biomass; Biomass burning; Burning; Composition; Cultural heritage; daily samples; Datasets; Dust; Dust storms; Emission analysis; hourly samples; Marine aerosols; Measurement techniques; Mitigation; Nitrates; Organic carbon; Particulate emissions; Particulate matter; Particulate matter sources; PM2.5; PMF; Polytetrafluoroethylene; Resolution; Saharan dust; source apportionment; Studies; Sulfates; Suspended particulate matter; urban aerosols; Urban areas; X-ray emissions
• ISSN: 2073-4433; 2073-4433
• DOI: 10.3390/atmos11050484

An extensive field campaign was carried out in Florence (Tuscany) to investigate the PM2.5 composition and to identify its sources. The scientific objective of this study is providing a reliable source apportionment, which is mandatory for the application of effective mitigation actions. Particulate matter (PM) was collected for one year, simultaneously in a traffic site, in an urban background, and in a regional background site. While the use of two filter types (quartz and Teflon) allowed obtaining a comprehensive chemical characterization (elemental and organic carbon, ions, elements) by the application of different analytical techniques, the location of the three sampling sites allowed getting a better separation among local, urban, regional and transboundary sources. During shorter periods, the aerosol was also collected by means of a streaker sampler and PIXE (Particle Induced X-ray Emission) analysis of these samples allowed the assessment of hourly resolution elemental time trends. Positive matrix factorisation (PMF) identified seven main sources: traffic, biomass burning, secondary sulphate, secondary nitrates, urban dust, Saharan dust and marine aerosol. Traffic mass concentration contributions were found to be strong only at the traffic site (~8 μg·m−3, 33% of PM2.5). Biomass burning turned out to be an important PM2.5 source in Florence (~4 μg·m−3), with very similar weights in both city sites while at the regional background site its weight was negligible. Secondary sulphate is an important PM2.5 source on a regional scale, with comparable values in all three sites (~3.5 μg·m−3). On average, the contribution of the “natural” components (e.g., mineral dust and marine aerosols) to PM2.5 is moderate (~1 μg·m−3) except during Saharan dust intrusions where this contribution is higher (detected simultaneously in all three sites). High-time resolution data confirmed and reinforced these results.