Abstract

VARGAS, Freddy A  and  ROJAS, Néstor Y. Chemical composition and mass closure for airborne particulate matter in Bogotá . Ing. Investig. [online]. 2010, vol.30, n.2, pp.105-115. ISSN 0120-5609.

Particulate matter, measured as PM₁₀, is the most concerning airborne pollutant in Bogotá. Determining its chemical composition is important for understanding its potential effects and to estimate various sources’ contribution to such pollution. This paper gives the results of characterising the ionic species, carbonaceous material, metals and crustal elements present in airborne PM₁₀ in Bogotá. An ion charge balance and mass reconstruction were done for determining consistency between chemical characterisation and gravimetric PM₁₀. The composition was different in each area; however, the fractions contributing most to PM₁₀ were crustal, 37% to 42% was related to fugitive and suspended dust, 12% to 11% was related to carbonaceus fractions, 43% to elemental carbon, 34% for organic matter and 5% to 8% for ionic fractions.

Keywords : particulate matter; PM₁₀; mass closure; ionic balance; Bogotá; chemical composition.

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