Changes in elemental composition and mass of atmospheric aerosol pollution between 1996 and 2002 in a Central European city

• Published in: Environmental pollution (1987) Vol. 143; no. 3; pp. 479 - 488
• Main Authors: Salma, Imre, Maenhaut, Willy
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford Elsevier Ltd 01-10-2006; Elsevier
• Subjects: Air Pollutants - analysis; Applied sciences; Atmospheric pollution; Brake wear; Environmental Monitoring; Exact sciences and technology; Humans; Hungary; Metals, Heavy - analysis; Non-exhaust vehicle emissions; Pollutants physicochemistry study: properties, effects, reactions, transport and distribution; Pollution; Road traffic; Tire rubber wear; Urban aerosol; Urban Health; Vehicle Emissions - analysis; Hungary; Europe; Hungary, Budapest; Road traffic; Urban aerosol; Tire rubber wear; Brake wear; Non-exhaust vehicle emissions; Wear particle; Identification; Urban area; Heavy metal; Coarse particle; Tyre; Trace element; Pollution source; Aerosols; Air pollution; Exhaust gas; Brake; Concentration distribution; Anthropogenic factor
• ISSN: 0269-7491; 1873-6424
• DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2005.11.042

Median atmospheric concentrations of Pb, Br, S, As, Se, and particulate matter (PM) decreased, and median concentrations of Sb, Cu, Zn, Fe, Ca, Cr and Ba increased in urban aerosol in downtown Budapest between 1996 and 2002. The changes in Pb and Br concentrations were unambiguously attributed to the phasing out of leaded gasoline. The increments were mainly related to and explained by non-exhaust vehicular emissions. The mechanical wear of asbestos-free brake linings of road vehicles contributed to the concentration of Cu and Sb on average by 69% and 66%, respectively in the PM10 size fraction. Tire rubber abrasion was a major source for atmospheric Zn; on average, non-crustal sources accounted for 67% of Zn in the PM10 size fraction. Contribution of the tire wear component to the PM10 mass was estimated to be 6% at most, while its contribution to organic aerosol was of the order of 15%.
Non-exhaust traffic emission particles and coarse-mode particles are increasing in Budapest, Hungary.