Comparative Study of PM10 Concentrations and Their Elemental Composition Using Two Different Techniques during Winter-Spring Field Observation in Polish Village

The aims of this study were to determine the concentrations and elemental composition of PM10 in the village of Kotorz Maly (Poland), to analyse their seasonal variability, to determine the sources of pollutant emissions and to compare the consistency of the results obtained using different methods. Sampling and weather condition measurements were carried out in the winter (January-February) and spring (April) of 2019. Two combinations of different techniques were used to examine PM10 concentrations and their chemical composition: gravimetric method + atomic absorption spectrometry (GM+AAS) and continuous particle monitor + energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence (CPM+EDXRF). In winter, the average concentrations of PM10 measured by the GM and CPM were similar (GM 44.3 mu g/m(3); CPM 34.0 mu g/m(3)), while in spring they were clearly different (GM 49.5 mu g/m(3); CPM 29.8 mu g/m(3)). Both AAS and EDXRF proved that in both seasons, Ca, K and Fe had the highest shares in the PM10 mass. In the case of the lowest shares, the indications of the two methods were slightly different. Factor analysis indicated that air quality in the receptor was determined by soil erosion, coal and burning biomass, and the combustion of fuels in car engines; in the spring, air quality was also affected by gardening activities.

Automated summary

This study aimed to determine the concentrations and elemental composition of PM10 in a village in Poland, analyze their seasonal variability, determine the sources of pollution emissions, and compare the results obtained using different methods. The results showed that Ca, K, and Fe had the highest shares in the PM10 mass. Soil erosion, coal and biomass burning, and fuel combustion in car engines were identified as the main sources of pollutants.