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Air quality and elemental enrichment factors of aerosol particulate matter in Riyadh City, Saudi Arabia

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Abstract

Air particulate matter (PM) samples were collected from June 2006 to May 2007 for determination of chemical elements. PM samples were taken in two size fractions (PM2.5 and PM10) with MiniVolume air samplers on rooftops of various buildings (15–25 m above ground) in the city of Riyadh. The samples were subjected to X-ray fluorescence analysis to measure major (Na, Mg, Al, K, Ca, Si, P, S, and Fe) and trace elements (Mn, Ni, Cu, Zn, and Ba). The results showed that the PM concentrations were higher for PM10 compared to PM2.5, indicating that the major PM source was local dust. Also the spatial distribution with high PM concentrations was observed in the south and southeast of the city and the lowest levels were in the center and northeast of the city. This spatial distribution was attributed to different factors such as wind direction and velocity, emission from cement factories, and the presence of buildings, trees, and paved streets that reduce the amount of dust resuspended into the atmosphere. The air quality of the city was found to range from good to hazardous based on PM2.5, and from good to very hazardous based on PM10. The element-enrichment factors revealed two element groups according to their changing spatial behavior. The first group showed no significant spatial changes indicating they have the same common source. The second group (mainly S and Ni) exhibited significant changes as expected from anthropogenic inputs. The origin of S is possibly a combination of minerals (CaSO4) and fossil fuel combustion. The source of Ni is probably from fossil fuel combustion.

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Acknowledgments

The authors acknowledge the technical support of the King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology for performing the chemical analysis of the major and trace elements. The preparation of this paper benefited from grants to BRTS from the Distinguished Scientist Fellowship Program at King Saud University, Riyadh and to AIR from the National Plan for Science and Technology (NPS 09-ENV842-02).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Chair of Green Energy Research, Department of Plant Protection, College of Food and Agriculture Sciences, King Saud University, P. O. Box 2460, Riyadh, 11451, Saudi Arabia

    Ahmed I. Rushdi, Khalid F. Al-Mutlaq, Mubarak Al-Otaibi, Aarif H. El-Mubarak & Bernd R. T. Simoneit

  2. Department of Geosciences, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR, 97331, USA

    Ahmed I. Rushdi

  3. Department of Chemistry, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR, 97331, USA

    Bernd R. T. Simoneit

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  1. Ahmed I. Rushdi
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Correspondence to Ahmed I. Rushdi.

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Rushdi, A.I., Al-Mutlaq, K.F., Al-Otaibi, M. et al. Air quality and elemental enrichment factors of aerosol particulate matter in Riyadh City, Saudi Arabia. Arab J Geosci 6, 585–599 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12517-011-0357-9

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