FINE PARTICLES EMISSION SOURCE PROFILES FOR A SEMI-ARID URBAN CENTER: KEY MARKERS AND SIMILARITY TESTS

Abstract

Source apportionment studies rely on source emission profiles, which in some instances are locally scarce or non-existent. Thus, estimations are done using profiles obtained from other geographical sites, which brings a certain degree of uncertainty in the outcomes of such studies. This work presents the results of near-field measurement of 12 types of fine particle emission sources to develop local-region source profiles in the Monterrey Metropolitan Area. The source profiles include a chemical characterization of trace elements and carbonaceous fraction. A statistical analysis based on the Pearson distance and similarity identity distance was conducted to ensure the uniqueness of each source profile. Overall, the most dominant species in the profiles were organic and elemental carbon, and elemental sulfur, whereas the least abundant were transition metals. The meat-cooking operations profiles exhibited the highest organic carbon to elemental carbon ratios, which were 7-40 times higher than those for biomass burning and vehicle exhausts profiles. The urban construction profile was dominated by crustal elements, while the suburban area profile exhibited an internal mixing with anthropogenic compounds. The source profiles in this study were distinguishable, as determined by preliminary tests for each pair of chemical source profiles. These profiles could be used to implement receptor models in urban sites with similar characteristics.