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Chemical composition and mass closure of ambient coarse particles at traffic and urban-background sites in Thessaloniki, Greece

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Abstract

Concentrations and chemical composition of the coarse particle fraction (PMc) were investigated at two urban sites in the city of Thessaloniki, Greece, through concurrent sampling of PM10 and PM2.5 during the warm and the cold months of the year. PMc levels at the urban-traffic site (UT) were among the highest found in literature worldwide exhibiting higher values in the cold period. PMc levels at the urban-background site (UB) were significantly lower exhibiting a reverse seasonal trend. Concentration levels of minerals and most trace metals were also higher at the UT site suggesting a stronger impact from traffic-related sources (road dust resuspension, brake and tire abrasion, road wear). According to the chemical mass closure obtained, minerals (oxides of Si, Al, Ca, Mg, Fe, Ti, and K) dominated the PMc profile, regardless of the site and the period, with organic matter and secondary inorganic aerosols (mainly nitrate) also contributing considerably to the PMc mass, particularly in the warm period. The influence of wind speed to dilution and/or resuspension of coarse particles was investigated. The source of origin of coarse particles was also investigated using surface wind data and atmospheric back-trajectory modeling. Finally, the contribution of resuspension to PMc levels was estimated for air quality management perspectives.

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Acknowledgments

This work was carried out in the framework of the ACEPT-AIR LIFE + 09 ENV/GR/000289 project financed by the European Community (LIFE + Environment Policy and Governance). The authors also acknowledge the assistance of M.J. Petrakakis, A.G. Kelessis, and P.N. Tzoumaka from the Municipality of Thessaloniki for facilitating the sampling campaigns and for providing meteorological data.

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  1. Environmental Pollution Control Laboratory, Department of Chemistry, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, University Campus, 54124, Thessaloniki, Greece

    Theodoros Grigoratos, Constantini Samara, Dimitra Voutsa, Evangelia Manoli & Athanasios Kouras

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  1. Theodoros Grigoratos
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  2. Constantini Samara
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  3. Dimitra Voutsa
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  4. Evangelia Manoli
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  5. Athanasios Kouras
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Correspondence to Theodoros Grigoratos.

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Responsible editor: Philippe Garrigues

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Grigoratos, T., Samara, C., Voutsa, D. et al. Chemical composition and mass closure of ambient coarse particles at traffic and urban-background sites in Thessaloniki, Greece. Environ Sci Pollut Res 21, 7708–7722 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-014-2732-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-014-2732-z

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