Size-fractionated airborne particulate matter characterization of a residential area near Islamabad airport by IBA methods

Size fractionated PM2.5 and PM2.5–10 airborne particulates collected from the airport housing society site in Rawalpindi were characterized using the non destructive ion beam analysis method. Proton induced X-ray emission and Proton induced gamma ray emission were employed to quantify 28 trace elements in fine and coarse filter samples. The average PM2.5 and PM2.5–10 masses were found to be 15.7 and 144 μg/m3, respectively which, when combined exceed the Pakistani limit for PM10 of 100 μg/m3. The average black carbon (BC) content was found to be 3.49 and 5.95 μg/m3 corresponding to 23.8 and 4.30% of the fine and coarse masses, respectively. The reconstructed mass (RCM) was calculated for both particle modes using 5 pseudo sources, namely soil, sulfate, smoke, sea salt and BC. It was found that 5 sources could account for 80.6 and 49.0% of the fine and coarse masses, respectively. The low value of RCM for the coarse mode may imply a much higher organic content. The major sources contributing to the fine mode were soil, sulfate and BC. Similarly for the coarse mass fraction it was found that soil was the major source whereas the sulfate and BC sources did not contribute as much.