Physicochemical characterization of Las Palmas aerosol

Abstract

At this work we present a physicochemical study about Las Palmas aerosol, using filter samples collected from five stages cascade impactors, covering particle diameter between 10 and 0.01 mu m. The bimodality of mass distribution, with maxima near 0.31 mu m for fine particles (anthropogenic aerosol) and 4.9 mu m (natural aerosol) for coarse, and the distribution form of each mode is shown. Global concentration of elements Ca, Mg, Fe, Cu, Ni, Na, K and Pb is established. Na, Fe, Mg, Pb y K were the more important, confirming both natural and anthropogenic influences. The observed size distribution for all elements present a maximun in the coarse, 7.4-3.8 mu m, fraction.