A novel approach to comparing simultaneous size-segregated particulate matter (PM) concentration ratios by means of a dedicated triangular diagram using the Agri Valley PM measurements as an example

Abstract

This work presents a novel approach to comparing and graphically representing simultaneous concentration measurements of PM10, PM2.5 and PM1 (i.e., aerosol particles with aerodynamic diameters less than 10, 2.5 and 1 μm, respectively) with similar data reported in the literature using PM2.5/PM10 and PM1/PM10 concentration ratios. With this aim, a dedicated triangular diagram was used. The proposed approach was applied to size-segregated particulate matter (PM) concentrations recorded in the Agri Valley (Basilicata region-southern Italy). Results show that the PM10, PM2.5 and PM1 concentrations recorded in the Agri Valley are comparable both in terms of PM concentration ratios and PM levels to an urban site.