US EPA

2032220 

Journal Article 

SIZE DISTRIBUTION AND CHEMICAL COMPOSITION OF AIRBORNE PARTICLES AT AKROTIRI RESEARCH STATION, CRETE, GREECE 

Kopanakis, I; Lydakis-Simantiris, N; Katsivela, E; Pentari, D; Zarmpas, P; Mihalopoulos, N; Lazaridis, M 

2010 

1 

Global NEST Journal
ISSN: 1790-7632
EISSN: 1108-4006 

12 

1 

54-62 

WOS:000276798400008 

Particulate matter measurements were performed at the Akrotiri research station on the island of Crete (Greece) using an 8-stages Andersen non-viable impactor. The main purpose of the current work was to measure the ambient levels of PM(10) particulate matter as well as the concentrations of metals and ions in 8 different PM size fractions with aerodynamic diameter cutoff at 9, 5.8, 4.7, 3.3, 2.1, 1.1, 0.7, 0.4 and a back-up filter for particles below 0.4 mu m. The mean PM(10) concentration during the first sampling period of August 2007 was equal to 28.2 +/- 14.0 mu g m(-3) (10/08/2007 - 26/08/2007), whereas during the second sampling period (09/07/2008 - 16/07/2008) was 40.2 +/- 16.9 mu g m(-3). Moreover, mean concentrations of PM(2.1) particulate matter were measured on the average equal to a 41.0 % and 37.2 % of PM(10), respectively for the two corresponding sampling periods. The measurements showed high concentration of fine particles (with aerodynamic diameter less than 0.9 mu m), whereas the mass concentration peak was located at an aerodynamic diameter close to 4 - 5 mu m. Sulphate was the most abundant anion PM(10), whereas sea production ions, such as chlorine, sodium and nitrate, were also in elevated concentrations presented. In addition, the crustal element Fe was in higher concentrations in comparison to the measured heavy metals. 

atmospheric aerosols; metals; ions; PM(10); Andersen impactor