Elemental characterization and source identification of PM2.5 using Positive Matrix Factorization: The Malraux road tunnel, Nice, France

This work was dedicated to the characterization of the elemental composition of atmospheric particles associated with urban traffic. PM2.5 sampling campaigns were conducted in an urban road tunnel within the area of Nice: the Malraux tunnel. Samples were analyzed by ICP-MS-DRC for the determination of 16 metallic trace elements: Na, Ti, V, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, As, Sr, Rb, Cd, Sn, Sb and Pb. An in depth study was carried out on the PM2.5 dataset collected with specific characterisation tools (enrichment factors, elemental ratio) and a receptor model: the Positive Matrix Factorization (PMF). The model showed that different profiles of emission could influence the ambient air of the tunnel and their contribution to the metal concentration in the air. Elemental fingerprints were used to attribute to each profile a specific emission source linked to road traffic. Finally, results showed that road traffic emissions could be divided into 3 main “subcategory” sources of emission: “soil resuspension” by automobile movement, “vehicular wear” and “fuel combustion”.