PM components and sources across Mediterranean countries: Results from the Med-Particles project

Background: The Mediterranean Basin, MB is characterised an air pollution hotspot, located at a crossroad of air masses coming from Europe, Asia and Africa. The large variety of aerosol sources coupled with complex orography and atmospheric dynamics gives rise to a complex mixture of gaseous and particulate matter (PM) pollutants that merits further investigation. Aim: The aim of this study is to investigate the long-term trends of air pollutants in the Mediterranean Basin. Specific emission sources were investigated in order to assess their impact on urban air quality. Methods: In the framework of the Med-Particles project ambient concentrations of PM2.5, PM10, gaseous pollutants and also chemical components were collected from traffic and urban background sites in MB countries: Spain (Barcelona, Madrid, Huelva), France (Marseille), Italy (Rome, Turin, Bologna, Milan) and Greece (Athens, Thessaloniki) for the period 2001-2010. Source apportionment analysis was conducted by the receptor model Positive Mat...