Characterization of urban particulate matter for a health-related study in southern Finland

• Published in: Boreal environment research Vol. 15; no. 5; pp. 513 - 532
• Main Authors: AURELA, Minna, SILLANPÄÄ, Markus, PAKKANEN, Tuomo, SALONEN, Raimo O, HILLAMO, Risto, PENNANEN, Arto, MÄKELÄ, Timo, LAAKIA, Jaakko, TOLONEN-KIVIMÄKI, Outi, SAARNIO, Karri, YLI-TUOMI, Tarja, AALTO, Pasi, SALONEN, Iiris
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Helsinski Finnish Environment Institute 29.10.2010
• Subjects: Animal and plant ecology; Animal, plant and microbial ecology; Biological and medical sciences; Earth sciences; Earth, ocean, space; Exact sciences and technology; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; General aspects; Marine and continental quaternary; Surficial geology; Synecology; Scandinavia; Europe; Finland; Short term; particulate matters; concentration; Particulate organic matter; air; sulfates; urban areas; nitrogen oxide; Suspended particle; Sea salt; materials; winds; charcoal; soils; Environment quality
• ISSN: 1239-6095; 1797-2469

Particulate matter was physically and chemically characterized in November 2005–May 2006 concurrently with an epidemiological study among cardiac patients in Kotka, Finland. The daily PM2.5 concentrations (campaign mean 10.6 g m–3) typically displayed a similar pattern to that in Helsinki, suggesting that the air masses were well-mixed over a large area of southern Finland. There were occasionally increased short-term PM2.5 and particle number concentrations, most likely due to emissions from local industrial sources. A strong relationship was detected between high particle number concentrations (> 30 000 cm–3) and north-easterly winds. PM2.5, black carbon (BC) or nitrogen oxides (NOx) did not show corresponding connection. The mean contribution of local traffic to BC and NOx were estimated at 30% and 55%, respectively, during the campaign. The main chemical component of PM2.5 was particulate organic matter (37% ± 14%) followed by non-sea-salt sulphate (26% ± 11%), whereas main component of PM2.5–10 was soil-derived crustal material (49% ± 11%).