Tracing of aerosol sources in an urban environment using chemical, Sr isotope, and mineralogical characterization

Abstract

In the framework of two national research projects (ORGANOSOL and CN-linkAIR), fine particulate matter (PM2.5) was sampled for 17 months at an urban location in the Western European Coast. The PM2.5 samples were analyzed for organic carbon (OC), water-soluble organic carbon (WSOC), elemental carbon (EC), major water-soluble inorganic ions, mineralogical, and for the first time in this region, strontium isotope (87Sr/86Sr) composition. Organic matter dominates the identifiable urban PM2.5 mass, followed by secondary inorganic aerosols. The acquired data resulted also in a seasonal overview of the carbonaceous and inorganic aerosol composition, with an important contribution from primary biomass burning and secondary formation processes in colder and warmer periods, respectively. The fossil-related primary EC seems to be continually present throughout the sampling period. The 87Sr/86Sr ratios were measured on both the labile and residual PM2.5 fractions as well as on the bulk PM2.5 samples. Regardless of the air mass origin, the residual fractions are more radiogenic (representative of a natural crustal dust source) than the labile fractions, whose 87Sr/86Sr ratios are comparable to that of seawater. The 87Sr/86Sr ratios and the mineralogical composition data further suggest that sea salt and mineral dust are important primary natural sources of fine aerosols throughout the sampling period.