Article: Geochemical behaviour of the aerosol sampled in a suburban zone of Sfax City (Tunisia) Journal: International Journal of Environment and Pollution (IJEP) 2010 Vol.41 No.1/2 pp.51 - 69 Abstract: This work examines the geochemistry of the soluble elements (Ca2+, Mg2+, Fe2+ + Fe3+, Na+, K+, NH4+, Cl−, NO3−, SO42− and PO43−) present in the aerosol collected from a suburban site in Sfax City (Tunisia), which is frequently subjected to the urban plume. The descriptive study showed the influence of enrichment sources and meteorological factors. Complementary statistical approaches based on principal component analysis and multiple linear regression showed that the sampled aerosol has three different origins: crustal, marine and anthropogenic. The corresponding components are respectively made of (Ca2+, Mg2+, Fe2+ + Fe3+, K+ and PO43−), (Cl− and Na+) and (SO42−, NH4+ and NO3−). The contribution of the first two components is shown to depend on seasonal effects caused by two antagonistic circulations of continental and marine winds. The contribution of the anthropogenic component (SO42−, NH4+ and NO3−) is shown to be related to the effect of dominant north-easterly winds, which carry the pollution of Sfax City to the study site. Statistical approaches related to the behaviour of these anthropogenic compounds, in the presence of secondary aerosol precursors (SO2, NO2), proved their dependence on gas/particle conversion processes, especially those of neutralisation. Inderscience Publishers - linking academia, business and industry through research

Title: Geochemical behaviour of the aerosol sampled in a suburban zone of Sfax City (Tunisia)

Authors: Chafai Azri, Habib Abida, Khaled Medhioub

Addresses: Departement des Sciences de la Terre, Faculte des Sciences de Sfax (FSS), Route Soukra, km 3.5, BP 1171, 3000 Sfax, Tunisia. ' Departement des Sciences de la Terre, Faculte des Sciences de Sfax (FSS), Route Soukra, km 3.5, BP 1171, 3000 Sfax, Tunisia. ' Institut Preparatoire aux Etudes d'Ingenieurs Sfax (IPEIS), BP 805, 3018 Sfax, Tunisia

Abstract: This work examines the geochemistry of the soluble elements (Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺, Fe²⁺ + Fe³⁺, Na⁺, K⁺, NH₄⁺, Cl⁻, NO₃⁻, SO₄²⁻ and PO₄³⁻) present in the aerosol collected from a suburban site in Sfax City (Tunisia), which is frequently subjected to the urban plume. The descriptive study showed the influence of enrichment sources and meteorological factors. Complementary statistical approaches based on principal component analysis and multiple linear regression showed that the sampled aerosol has three different origins: crustal, marine and anthropogenic. The corresponding components are respectively made of (Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺, Fe²⁺ + Fe³⁺, K⁺ and PO₄³⁻), (Cl⁻ and Na⁺) and (SO₄²⁻, NH₄⁺ and NO₃⁻). The contribution of the first two components is shown to depend on seasonal effects caused by two antagonistic circulations of continental and marine winds. The contribution of the anthropogenic component (SO₄²⁻, NH₄⁺ and NO₃⁻) is shown to be related to the effect of dominant north-easterly winds, which carry the pollution of Sfax City to the study site. Statistical approaches related to the behaviour of these anthropogenic compounds, in the presence of secondary aerosol precursors (SO₂, NO₂), proved their dependence on gas/particle conversion processes, especially those of neutralisation.

Keywords: aerosols; air pollution; air quality; urban pollution; Sfax; Tunisia; suburban sites; principal component analysis; PCA; linear regression; fine particles.

DOI: 10.1504/IJEP.2010.032245

International Journal of Environment and Pollution, 2010 Vol.41 No.1/2, pp.51 - 69

Published online: 17 Mar 2010 *

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Title: Geochemical behaviour of the aerosol sampled in a suburban zone of Sfax City (Tunisia)

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