Collected reprints: Abstract 3896
Collected reprints
Abstract
Otten, P.; Injuk, J.; Van Grieken, R. (1993). Elemental concentrations in atmospheric particulate matter sampled on the North Sea and the English Channel. Sci. Total Environ. 155: 131-149
Air sampling on a series of 10 cruises, spanning the whole area of the North Sea, yielded detailed spatial distributions of atmospheric concentrations of Al, Si, S, Cl, P, K, Ca, Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Ni, Cu, Zn, and Pb determined by EDXRF. A strong influence of the air mass history on the heavy metal concentrations was demonstrated for the whole sampling period of 5 years. Factor analysis performed on all samples collected with a stack filter unit resulted in the identification of three factors for the coarse particle fraction (sulphate particles with trace metals, sea salt particles and soil dust or metallurgic particles containing Fe) and four factors for the fine particle fraction (sea salt, sulphate with Pb and Zn), trace metal particles with Cu, Ni, Zn and fly-ash particles. The same statistics performed on all samples collected above the Southern Bight of the North Sea yielded three factors, namely: sea salt particles, particles enriched in Ni and V, originating from natural oil combustion and particles containing a variety of elements such as S, K, Ca, Fe, Pb, Cu and Zn. Compared with relevant measurements of trace elements in this area, a relatively good agreement can be found.
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