Trace element composition of fine and coarse particles at a background mountain station in Eastern Mediterranean: Assessment aerosol components and their source regions

Components making up aerosol population at a mountain station (1000 m asl) on the Mediterranean coast of Turkey were investigated. Fine (PM2.5) and coarse (PM2.5-10) particle samples were collected at approximately 8 km outside the Marmaris province, on the Mediterranean coast of Turkey. Fifteen elements were measured using energy dispersive x-ray fluorescence (EDXRF) technique. 84%-88% of crustal elements and 48%-51% of anthropogenic elements, except for S, were associated with coarse particles. EFc - Al diagrams showed that relatively high contribution of coarse particles on concentrations of anthropogenic elements is due to coagulation of fine anthropogenic particles on coarse crustal particles. Cluster analysis resulted in seven trajectory clusters. Two of these clusters have potential to bring dust from Sahara and two had potential to bring particles from local sources at western and central parts of Turkey. Concentrations of crustal elements were higher in summer due to limited resuspension in winter. Concentrations of pollution-derived elements were also high in summer due to more effective wet scavenging during winter season. Positive matrix factorization (PMF) analysis resulted in five factors which were identified as sea salt, crustal, local anthropogenic, oil combustion and regional combustion factors. Source regions affecting these anthropogenic components were supported by distributions of PSCF values. Approximately 75% of PM10 mass is accounted for by secondary inorganic ions, crustal material, and sea salt. Dust transported from North Africa accounted for 55%-76% of concentrations of crustal elements, but only 26% of PM10 mass, due to sea salt and secondary ion contribution to PM10 mass concentrations.