COMPARISON OF INORGANIC CHEMICAL COMPOSITIONS OF TOTAL SUSPENDED AND RESPIRABLE PARTICULATES IN DIFFERENT REGIONS OF CAIRO

Abstract

To compare the inorganic chemical compositions of TSP (total suspended particulate) and PM10 (particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter less than 10 µm) in different regions of Cairo, atmospheric particles were collected in Tabbin, Helwan, Shobra Elkhimah and Fifth Settlement in spring and autumn. The mass concentrations, nine elements and nine soluble ions were assessed. The results showed that the mean mass concentration of TSP and PM10 in Tabbin were 603.9±37.5 µg/m3 and 381.7±44.9 µg/m3 at spring and 549±34.04 µg/m3 and 347±40.9 µg/m3 µg/m3 at autumn, respectively, in Helwan were 643±130.9 µg/m3 and 316±174.7 µg/m3 at spring and 533±254.9 µg/m3 and 254±69.4 µg/m3 at autumn, respectively, in Shobra Elkhimah were 1424±8.6 µg/m3 and 765±29.5 µg/m3 at spring and 1294±7.8 µg/m3 and 695±26.9 µg/m3 at autumn, respectively, in Fifth Settlement were 394.7±79.6 µg/m3 and 297±45.2 µg/m3 at spring and 439±88.4 µg/m3 and 329±50.2 µg/m3 at autumn, respectively. In Spring, mean concentration of the total heavy metals were 26.5±7.7 µg/m3 in TSP and 17.0±7.6 µg/m3 in PM10 whereas total water-soluble inorganic ions were 199.9±57.4 µg/m3 and 137.4±37.5 µg/m3, respectively, in Tabbin, in Helwan, the mean concentration of the total heavy metals were 110.8±9.3 µg/m3 in TSP and 34.2±7.0 µg/m3 in PM10 whereas total water-soluble inorganic ions were 129.4±33.9 µg/m3and 42.9±13.8 µg/m3, respectively, in Shobra Elkhimah the mean concentration of the total heavy metals were 41.4±7.9 µg/m3in TSP and 30.9±3.5 µg/m3 in PM10 whereas total water-soluble inorganic ions were 155.9±81.2 µg/m3and 70.1±10.0 µg/m3, respectively, in Fifth Settlement, the mean concentration of the total heavy metals were 32.6±10.4 µg/m3in TSP and 26.5±8.5 µg/m3 in PM10 whereas total water-soluble inorganic ions were 36.6±12.9 µg/m3and 34.1±8.6 µg/m3, respectively.