TITLE:
Distribution and Characterization of PM10 in City and Valley of Mexicali, Baja California, Mexico
AUTHORS:
Miguel Canales-Rodríguez, Margarito Quintero-Núnez, Benjamin Valdés-Salas, Walter Daessle-Heuser
KEYWORDS:
Urban, Rural, Atmosphere, Particulate Matter
JOURNAL NAME:
Journal of Environmental Protection,
Vol.6 No.1,
January
15,
2015
ABSTRACT: The
variability of the levels of atmospheric particulate matter PM10 and
its composition is assessed in the rural and urban zones of Mexicali during
fall and winter 2008-2009, using a low level volume Minivol sampler, with
quartz and Teflon filters. During fall the Mexican norm was exceeded (120 μg/m3 in 24 hr) in only
two occasions, while in winter it was exceeded twelve times. The predominant
component in fall was geological material with 62.5% for the rural zone and
48.5% for the urban one. In winter the geological material was also predominant
with 65% for the rural zone and 54.4% for the urban zone. The aim of this work
is the interpretation of the variability of the atmospheric PM10 particulate matter at two selected zones (urban and rural of Mexicali) during
fall and winter, with emphasis on the chemical composition. The results suggest
that the pollution in the urban and rural zones has common sources during
winter whereas in fall the pollution has different sources.