Trace Elements Concentrations in Urban Air in Helsinki, Finland during a 44-Year Period
The atmospheric concentrations of seventeen elements were measured in air filters at the Finnish Meteorological Institute station in Helsinki, Finland, during a period of 44 years (1962–2005). The mean annual concentrations were calculated and are presented from the lowest values to the highest ones...
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MDPI AG
2023-09-01
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| Series: | Atmosphere |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4433/14/9/1430 |
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| author | Eleftheria Ioannidou Stefanos Papagiannis Manousos Ioannis Manousakas Chrysoula Betsou Konstantinos Eleftheriadis Jussi Paatero Lambrini Papadopoulou Alexandra Ioannidou |
| author_facet | Eleftheria Ioannidou Stefanos Papagiannis Manousos Ioannis Manousakas Chrysoula Betsou Konstantinos Eleftheriadis Jussi Paatero Lambrini Papadopoulou Alexandra Ioannidou |
| author_sort | Eleftheria Ioannidou |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The atmospheric concentrations of seventeen elements were measured in air filters at the Finnish Meteorological Institute station in Helsinki, Finland, during a period of 44 years (1962–2005). The mean annual concentrations were calculated and are presented from the lowest values to the highest ones Cr < Ni < Ti < Br < V < Mn < Cu < Zn < Cl < Al < Fe < K < Ca < Na < Pb < Si < S. Most of the elements (Fe, Si, Ti, K, Ca, Zn, Br, Pb, V, Ni, S, Cr, Na, Al, and Cl) present higher values during spring and winter season, while in summer the elements (Ti, Ca, S, and Na) are found in higher concentrationsdue to the weather conditions across seasons and the sources and emissions of air pollutants. There is a strong correlation between the elements (V-Ni, Si-Pb, Fe-Ca, V-Cr, Si-K, K-Ca, Fe-Ti, K-Na, Si-Ca, and V-S), indicating their common source. The identification of the sources of trace elements was performed based on positive matrix factorization analysis, using SoFi software. Four Suspended Particulate Matter (PM) sources were identified: road dust (due to usage of leaded fuel), heavy oil combustion/secondary sulfates, traffic emissions, and natural dust (soil). For the total of 44 years studied, significant decreases in concentrations were observed for all elements, most of which were over 50%: Na (−74%), Al (−86%), Si (−88%), S (−82%), K (−82%), Ca (−89%), Ti (−80%), V (−89%), Cr (−82%), Mn (−77%), Fe (−77%), Ni (−61%), Zn (−72%), and Pb (−95%). In general, a significant decline has been observed in the majority of the elemental concentrations since the end of the 1970s, underlying the effectiveness of different environmental policies that have been applied during the last few decades. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T23:04:03Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-f00bf40adba04685bf68561b92f199f9 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2073-4433 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T23:04:03Z |
| publishDate | 2023-09-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Atmosphere |
| spelling | doaj.art-f00bf40adba04685bf68561b92f199f92023-11-19T09:31:11ZengMDPI AGAtmosphere2073-44332023-09-01149143010.3390/atmos14091430Trace Elements Concentrations in Urban Air in Helsinki, Finland during a 44-Year PeriodEleftheria Ioannidou0Stefanos Papagiannis1Manousos Ioannis Manousakas2Chrysoula Betsou3Konstantinos Eleftheriadis4Jussi Paatero5Lambrini Papadopoulou6Alexandra Ioannidou7Nuclear Physics & Elementary Particle Physics Division, School of Physics, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki, GreeceEnvironmental Radioactivity Laboratory, INRASTES, NCSR Demokritos, Agia Paraskevi, 15310 Athens, GreeceEnvironmental Radioactivity Laboratory, INRASTES, NCSR Demokritos, Agia Paraskevi, 15310 Athens, GreeceNuclear Physics & Elementary Particle Physics Division, School of Physics, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki, GreeceEnvironmental Radioactivity Laboratory, INRASTES, NCSR Demokritos, Agia Paraskevi, 15310 Athens, GreeceFinnish Meteorological Institute (FMI), Observation Services, P.O. Box 503, FI-00101 Helsinki, FinlandDepartment of Mineralogy-Petrology-Economic Geology, School of Geology, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki, GreeceNuclear Physics & Elementary Particle Physics Division, School of Physics, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki, GreeceThe atmospheric concentrations of seventeen elements were measured in air filters at the Finnish Meteorological Institute station in Helsinki, Finland, during a period of 44 years (1962–2005). The mean annual concentrations were calculated and are presented from the lowest values to the highest ones Cr < Ni < Ti < Br < V < Mn < Cu < Zn < Cl < Al < Fe < K < Ca < Na < Pb < Si < S. Most of the elements (Fe, Si, Ti, K, Ca, Zn, Br, Pb, V, Ni, S, Cr, Na, Al, and Cl) present higher values during spring and winter season, while in summer the elements (Ti, Ca, S, and Na) are found in higher concentrationsdue to the weather conditions across seasons and the sources and emissions of air pollutants. There is a strong correlation between the elements (V-Ni, Si-Pb, Fe-Ca, V-Cr, Si-K, K-Ca, Fe-Ti, K-Na, Si-Ca, and V-S), indicating their common source. The identification of the sources of trace elements was performed based on positive matrix factorization analysis, using SoFi software. Four Suspended Particulate Matter (PM) sources were identified: road dust (due to usage of leaded fuel), heavy oil combustion/secondary sulfates, traffic emissions, and natural dust (soil). For the total of 44 years studied, significant decreases in concentrations were observed for all elements, most of which were over 50%: Na (−74%), Al (−86%), Si (−88%), S (−82%), K (−82%), Ca (−89%), Ti (−80%), V (−89%), Cr (−82%), Mn (−77%), Fe (−77%), Ni (−61%), Zn (−72%), and Pb (−95%). In general, a significant decline has been observed in the majority of the elemental concentrations since the end of the 1970s, underlying the effectiveness of different environmental policies that have been applied during the last few decades.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4433/14/9/1430long-term observationsurban airtrace elementsseasonal variationatmospheric pollutants |
| spellingShingle | Eleftheria Ioannidou Stefanos Papagiannis Manousos Ioannis Manousakas Chrysoula Betsou Konstantinos Eleftheriadis Jussi Paatero Lambrini Papadopoulou Alexandra Ioannidou Trace Elements Concentrations in Urban Air in Helsinki, Finland during a 44-Year Period Atmosphere long-term observations urban air trace elements seasonal variation atmospheric pollutants |
| title | Trace Elements Concentrations in Urban Air in Helsinki, Finland during a 44-Year Period |
| title_full | Trace Elements Concentrations in Urban Air in Helsinki, Finland during a 44-Year Period |
| title_fullStr | Trace Elements Concentrations in Urban Air in Helsinki, Finland during a 44-Year Period |
| title_full_unstemmed | Trace Elements Concentrations in Urban Air in Helsinki, Finland during a 44-Year Period |
| title_short | Trace Elements Concentrations in Urban Air in Helsinki, Finland during a 44-Year Period |
| title_sort | trace elements concentrations in urban air in helsinki finland during a 44 year period |
| topic | long-term observations urban air trace elements seasonal variation atmospheric pollutants |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4433/14/9/1430 |
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