Identification of industrial point sources of airborne dust particles in an urban environment by a combined mineralogical and meteorological analyses: A case study from the Upper Silesian conurbation, Poland

Özet

Specific industrial point sources of PM10 were identified by combining real-time meteorological observations and mineralogical examination (XRD, SEM-EDS, TEM-EDS) of individual particles collected during five individual week-long sampling campaigns in 2011 in the most industrialized region of Poland. Major (> 20 vol%) and subordinate components of PM10 (soot, quartz, gypsum, aluminosilicates, Fe-oxides, dolomite, and Pb-chloride) occur in different proportions season-depending and are of limited use in the identification of the emission point sources. Some minor components (particles of Cd- and Tl-bearing ZnS, and of iron and Cr-steel) related to meteorological conditions enabled identification of a large zinc refinery (35 km NW of the sampling site) and integrated iron and steelmaking plant located close to (10 km NE) the sampling site as the most probable emission point sources. Three other large steel plants located in the SW wind rose sector at a distance of 28, 75, and 80 km of the sampling site were typified as potential point sources based on submicron metal particles (Mnalloyed steel, brass, hematite, magnetite, Fe-spinels). Combination of meteorological data and mineralogical investigation of airborne individual particles enabled distinguishing between sources of similar mineral tracers located in different sectors of wind rose and provided direct evidence for Zn and Cl speciation.