Title: Statistical evaluation of elemental composition data of PM₁₀ air particulate in Sofia

Authors: Blagorodka Veleva; Elena Hristova; Emilia Nikolova; Maria Kolarova; Raliza Valcheva

Addresses: National Institute of Meteorology and Hydrology, NIMH-BAS, Sofia, Bulgaria ' National Institute of Meteorology and Hydrology, NIMH-BAS, Sofia, Bulgaria ' Institute of Nuclear Research and Nuclear Engineering, INRNE-BAS, Sofia, Bulgaria ' National Institute of Meteorology and Hydrology, NIMH-BAS, Sofia, Bulgaria ' Institute of Nuclear Research and Nuclear Engineering, INRNE-BAS, Sofia, Bulgaria

Abstract: This study reviews the elemental composition data of PM₁₀ obtained in six experimental campaigns run in February, July, October and December 2012 and in January-February and July 2013. The PM₁₀ quartz fibre filters were collected with TECORA low volume PM₁₀ sampler at the Central Meteorological Observatory in Sofia. The concentration of more than 20 macro and micro elements was measured by ED-XRF technique. The higher PM₁₀ daily concentrations are related to the higher concentrations for most of the elements. Ag, K, Ca and Fe show high values in summer when PM₁₀ concentration is low. The concentrations from element to element may vary in three orders of magnitude. HYSPLIT and FLEXTRA trajectory models were used to study the transport of air masses with higher silver concentrations, observed in July 2012 in Sofia. The multivariate techniques factor analysis (FA) and principle components analysis (PCA) were applied for source identification of the elemental composition data.

Keywords: air quality; particulate matter; PM10 concentration; PM10 elemental composition; urban air pollution; EDXRF; Sofia; Bulgaria; factor analysis; principle component analysis; PCA.

DOI: 10.1504/IJEP.2015.074502

International Journal of Environment and Pollution, 2015 Vol.57 No.3/4, pp.175 - 188

Received: 21 Dec 2014
Accepted: 20 Aug 2015
Published online: 02 Feb 2016 *

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