Determination of ionic compenents in atmospheric particulate matter and statistical evaluation of the data

In this study, mass and ionic (Cl-, NO3-, SO42-, Na+ K+, NH4+, Mg2+, Ca2+)concentrations were determined in particulate samples which were collected inEskişehir city center in February and August. Twenty four hours particulatematter samples were collected using low volume air sampler. Ionic concentrationswere determined both in fine and coarse fractions using Ion Chromatography. Themean mass concentrations of fine particulate matter was found as 9.12 µg/m3 ve6.35 µg/m3 for February and August correspondingly. However, correspondingmean concentrations was 86.8 µg/m3 ve 51.2 µg/m3 for coarse particulate matter.Concentrations of all the ions except for Mg2+ ve Ca2+ were found to increase inboth fractions in February. Wind sector analysis was performed to investigate theaffect of winds on particulate matter ion concentrations. It was found that, inFebruary, sources in the east part of the city makes contribution to ionicconcentrations while in August pollutants were carried from west sector byprevailing winds. Based on wind sector and correlation analysis, it was found thatespecially for the coarse particles, concentrations of NH4+ ,SO42- and NO3- inFebruary were related with the agricultural activities taking place in west part ofthe city. Besides that heating activities were found to be another source ofpollution in February.Keywords: PM 2,5, PM 10, Anions, Cations, Ion Chromotography