Determination of particle size distribution particle organi̇c matter composi̇ti̇on and sources in Aksaray atmosphere

The main purpose of this study is to determine the PAH components in the particulate matter (PM) composition in Aksaray atmosphere in summer and winter seasons. This main objective is: (1) to determine the PAH composition depending on the particle size, (2) to determine the PAH levels in the Aksaray atmosphere, (3) to reveal the similarities and differences between summer and winter seasons by comparing the PM and PAH composition determined in summer and winter, (4) includes specific purposes such as the source apportionment study and the determination of the main sources affecting the Aksaray air quality. In order to achieve the above-mentioned objectives, weekly PM samples were collected in Aksaray between August 2019 and September 2020, in 13-week summer and 16-week winter periods. PM samples were collected in eight different particle sizes on a quartz filter with a cascade impactor. The ∑PAH concentration showed a bimodal (double peaked) distribution and reached the peak concentration at ultrafine particle size. In terms of seasonality, it was determined that ∑PAH concentrations were higher in the winter period compared to the summer period. Some of the PAHs analyzed in PM composition showed bimodal distribution, some showed unimodal distribution, and some parameters showed more than two distributions. With the diagnostic ratio method applied to the data set, it was seen that the sources that dominate in the winter period are petrogenic and that pyrologic sources dominate in the summer period. A 4-factor solution was obtained with the PMF model used to determine the resources. The main pollutant sources affecting the city atmosphere were identified as (1) evaporative emission and incompletely burned oil, (2) domestic heating, (3) traffic and (4) biomass combustion.