Chemical Composition and Sources of PM10 Particulate Matter Collected in San José, Costa Rica

Abstract

Measurements of trace metals and inorg. ions were carried out on PM10 aerosols sampled at two sites in the city of San Jose, Costa Rica. Samples were collected with a Thermo Andersen high vol. PM10 sampler on glass fiber and quartz filters. The ions SO42-, NO3-, Cl-, F-, PO43-, NH4+, K+, Na+, Ca2+ and Mg2+ were analyzed by ion chromatog. and the trace metals V, Cu, Cr, Pb, Ni, Mn, Fe and Al were analyzed using an at. absorption spectrometer with a graphite furnace attachment. The results indicated that SO42- was the most abundant ion, and Al the trace metal with the highest concn. Pearson's correlation applied to all data showed a high correlation among SO42-, NO3- and NH4+, indicating a common anthropogenic origin. In addn., the correlation found between Na+-K+ and Ca2+-Mg2+ indicated a crustal origin. No correlation was found among the trace metals except Cu-Cr and Fe-Cr. The influence of wind direction on trace metal concns. is also discussed. [on SciFinder(R)]