Real-time characterization and source apportionment of fine particulate matter in the Delhi megacity area during late winter

National Capital Region (NCR) encompassing New Delhi is one of the most polluted urban metropolitan areas in the world. Real-time chemical characterization of fine particulate matter (PM1 and PM2.5) was carried out using three aerosol mass spectrometers, two act halometers, and one single particle soot photometer (SP2) at two sites in Delhi (urban) and one site located similar to 40 km downwind of Delhi, during January-March 2018. The campaign mean PM2.5 (NR-PM2.5 + BC) concentrations at the two urban sites were 153.8 +/- 109.4 mu g.m(-3) and 127.8 +/- 832 mu g.m(-3), respectively, whereas PM1 (NR-PM1 + BC) was 72.3 +/- 44.0 mu g.m(-3) at the downwind site. PM2.5 particles were composed mostly of organics (43-44)% followed by chloride (14-17)%, ammonium (9-11)%, nitrate (9%), sulfate (8-10)%, and black carbon (11-16)%, whereas PM, particles were composed of 47% organics, 13% sulfate as well as ammonium, 11% nitrate as well as chloride, and 5% black carbon. Organic aerosol (OA) source apportionment was done using positive matrix factorization (PMF), solved using an advanced multi-linear engine (ME-2) model. Highly mass-resolved OA mass spectra at one urban and downwind site were factorized into three primary organic aerosol (POA) factors including one traffic-related and two solid-fuel combustion (SFC), and three oxidized OA (OOA) factors. Whereas unit mass resolution OA at the other urban site was factorized into two POA factors related to traffic and SFC, and one OOA factor. OOA constituted a majority of the total OA mass (45-55)% with maximum contribution during afternoon hours similar to(70-80)%. Significant differences in the absolute OOA concentration between the two urban sites indicated the influence of local emissions on the oxidized OA formation. Similar PM chemical composition, diurnal and temporal variations at the three sites suggest similar type of sources affecting the particulate pollution in Delhi and adjoining cities, but variability in mass concentration suggest more local influence than regional. (C) 2021 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Automated summary

The study conducted real-time chemical characterization of fine particulate matter in different locations in Delhi, finding that PM2.5 and PM1 particles are mainly composed of organics, followed by chloride, ammonium, nitrate, sulfate, and black carbon. There were significant differences in the absolute OOA concentration between the two urban sites, indicating the influence of local emissions on the oxidized OA formation. The chemical composition, diurnal and temporal variations of PM at the three sites suggest similar sources affecting particulate pollution in Delhi and adjoining cities, but with more local influence than regional.