PM10 source apportionment in Milan (Italy) using time-resolved data

• DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2011.07.048
• Publication Date: 2011-08-18T14:49:22Z
• Authors: Vera Bernardoni; Roberta Vecchi; Gianluigi Valli; Andrea Piazzalunga; Paola Fermo
• Keywords: Apportionment; Levoglucosan

In this work Positive Matrix Factorization (PMF) was applied to 4-hour resolved PM10 data collected in Milan (Italy) during summer and winter 2006. PM10 characterisation included elements (Mg-Pb), main inorganic ions (NH(4)(+), NO(3)(-), SO(4)(2-)), levoglucosan and its isomers (mannosan and galactosan), and organic and elemental carbon (OC and EC). PMF resolved seven factors that were assigned to construction works, re-suspended dust, secondary sulphate, traffic, industry, secondary nitrate, and wood burning. Multi Linear Regression was applied to obtain the PM10 source apportionment. The 4-hour temporal resolution allowed the estimation of the factor contributions during peculiar episodes, which would have not been detected with the traditional 24-hour sampling strategy.