An assessment of air quality in Belgrade urban area: PM10, PM2.5and trace metals

• Published in: Journal of physics. Conference series 2007-05, Vol.71 (1), p.012016
• Main Authors: Tasic, M, Rajsic, S, Novakovic, V, Mijic, Z
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Aerosols; Air quality; Airborne particulates; Aluminum; Chromium; Copper; Factor analysis; Iron; Manganese; Nickel; Outdoor air quality; Particulate emissions; Physics; Quality assessment; Trace elements; Trace metals; Urban areas; Vehicle emissions
• ISSN: 1742-6596; 1742-6588; 1742-6596
• DOI: 10.1088/1742-6596/71/1/012016

An extensive study on urban aerosols with the aim to determine the sources and provide a physico-chemical description of PM, present in the urban air of Belgrade, was performed. Air aerosol samples for PM10and PM2.5and trace metals were collected during June 2002 to July 2005 at representative locations in urban Belgrade area. Mass concentrations of PM10and PM2.5were determined gravimetrically, concentrations of 10 elements (Al, Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb, V and Zn) were determined with graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry and source identification was carried out by Principal Factor Analysis. The mean PM10mass concentration of 68.4 μg m−3exceeded the EC annual limit value of 40 μg m−3; 68 % exceedance of the proposed PM10daily limit value (50 μg m−3) was obtained and the mean PM2.5mass concentration of 61.4 μg m−3was more than 3 times the EC annual mean value of 20 μg m−3. The limit values of toxic trace elements from WHO and EC Air quality guidelines were not exceeded except for Ni. SEM/EDS analysis has been employed to individually characterize particles collected. The results of this study shows that the majority of trace metals in aerosols come from traffic emissions and traffic-induced road-dust resuspension along with industrial activities.