Gaseous Pollutants and Particulate Matter in Ambient Air: First Field Experiment in an Urban Mediterranean Area (Nador, Morocco)

Abstract Mediterranean urban areas are reportedly affected by poor air quality due to numerous emission sources, as well as topography and meteorological conditions that facilitate the accumulation of pollution. This present study makes an initial attempt to assess the effect of gaseous pollutants (...

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Main Authors: Bouchra Oujidi, Abdelfettah Benchrif, Mounia Tahri, Fatiha Zahry, Moussa Bounakhla, Hocein Bazairi, Nadia Mhammdi, Maria Snoussi
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Springer 2023-05-01
Series:Aerosol and Air Quality Research
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.4209/aaqr.220451
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author Bouchra Oujidi
Abdelfettah Benchrif
Mounia Tahri
Fatiha Zahry
Moussa Bounakhla
Hocein Bazairi
Nadia Mhammdi
Maria Snoussi
author_facet Bouchra Oujidi
Abdelfettah Benchrif
Mounia Tahri
Fatiha Zahry
Moussa Bounakhla
Hocein Bazairi
Nadia Mhammdi
Maria Snoussi
author_sort Bouchra Oujidi
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Mediterranean urban areas are reportedly affected by poor air quality due to numerous emission sources, as well as topography and meteorological conditions that facilitate the accumulation of pollution. This present study makes an initial attempt to assess the effect of gaseous pollutants (NO2, CO, and O3) and particulate matter (PM2.5 and PM10) on the air quality of Nador city, which lies on the Mediterranean coast of Morocco. Three daily, short-term sampling campaigns were conducted between 2016 and 2018 in an urban area. The concentrations of PM2.5 and PM10 together with elemental compositions (up to 16 elements) and black carbon content were determined. The obtained data were characterized using descriptive analysis, correlation matrices, elemental enrichment factors (EFs), and elemental ratios. On average, the particulate matter and gaseous pollutant concentrations were below the national standard limits. Two categories of PM2.5 and PM10 sources, as derived from the EF investigation, were defined as soil/crustal (Ti, Al, Mn, Sr, K, Na, Ba, and V) and anthropogenic (Ni, Cr, Cu, Zn, and Pb). For black carbon, biomass burning was found to be the largest contributing source (3.1–8.4 µg m−3), more so than fossil fuels (0.9–1.8 µg m−3). This study highlights that an air quality management plan should be established for Nador city, including the implementation of a network of monitoring stations to help with identifying and controlling the activities causing air pollution.
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spelling doaj-art-82fcfbcc31ac41fbb41e981a3d8b28ef2025-02-09T12:23:06ZengSpringerAerosol and Air Quality Research1680-85842071-14092023-05-0123811910.4209/aaqr.220451Gaseous Pollutants and Particulate Matter in Ambient Air: First Field Experiment in an Urban Mediterranean Area (Nador, Morocco)Bouchra Oujidi0Abdelfettah Benchrif1Mounia Tahri2Fatiha Zahry3Moussa Bounakhla4Hocein Bazairi5Nadia Mhammdi6Maria Snoussi7Geophysic and Naturels Hazards Laboratory, Institut Scientifique, GEOPAC Research Center, Mohammed V University in RabatNational Center for Nuclear Energy, Science and Technology (CNESTEN)National Center for Nuclear Energy, Science and Technology (CNESTEN)National Center for Nuclear Energy, Science and Technology (CNESTEN)National Center for Nuclear Energy, Science and Technology (CNESTEN)Faculty of Sciences, Mohammed V University in RabatGeophysic and Naturels Hazards Laboratory, Institut Scientifique, GEOPAC Research Center, Mohammed V University in RabatGeophysic and Naturels Hazards Laboratory, Institut Scientifique, GEOPAC Research Center, Mohammed V University in RabatAbstract Mediterranean urban areas are reportedly affected by poor air quality due to numerous emission sources, as well as topography and meteorological conditions that facilitate the accumulation of pollution. This present study makes an initial attempt to assess the effect of gaseous pollutants (NO2, CO, and O3) and particulate matter (PM2.5 and PM10) on the air quality of Nador city, which lies on the Mediterranean coast of Morocco. Three daily, short-term sampling campaigns were conducted between 2016 and 2018 in an urban area. The concentrations of PM2.5 and PM10 together with elemental compositions (up to 16 elements) and black carbon content were determined. The obtained data were characterized using descriptive analysis, correlation matrices, elemental enrichment factors (EFs), and elemental ratios. On average, the particulate matter and gaseous pollutant concentrations were below the national standard limits. Two categories of PM2.5 and PM10 sources, as derived from the EF investigation, were defined as soil/crustal (Ti, Al, Mn, Sr, K, Na, Ba, and V) and anthropogenic (Ni, Cr, Cu, Zn, and Pb). For black carbon, biomass burning was found to be the largest contributing source (3.1–8.4 µg m−3), more so than fossil fuels (0.9–1.8 µg m−3). This study highlights that an air quality management plan should be established for Nador city, including the implementation of a network of monitoring stations to help with identifying and controlling the activities causing air pollution.https://doi.org/10.4209/aaqr.220451Western Mediterranean BasinMeasurement campaignsPM10PM2.5Black carbon
spellingShingle Bouchra Oujidi
Abdelfettah Benchrif
Mounia Tahri
Fatiha Zahry
Moussa Bounakhla
Hocein Bazairi
Nadia Mhammdi
Maria Snoussi
Gaseous Pollutants and Particulate Matter in Ambient Air: First Field Experiment in an Urban Mediterranean Area (Nador, Morocco)
Aerosol and Air Quality Research
Western Mediterranean Basin
Measurement campaigns
PM10
PM2.5
Black carbon
title Gaseous Pollutants and Particulate Matter in Ambient Air: First Field Experiment in an Urban Mediterranean Area (Nador, Morocco)
title_full Gaseous Pollutants and Particulate Matter in Ambient Air: First Field Experiment in an Urban Mediterranean Area (Nador, Morocco)
title_fullStr Gaseous Pollutants and Particulate Matter in Ambient Air: First Field Experiment in an Urban Mediterranean Area (Nador, Morocco)
title_full_unstemmed Gaseous Pollutants and Particulate Matter in Ambient Air: First Field Experiment in an Urban Mediterranean Area (Nador, Morocco)
title_short Gaseous Pollutants and Particulate Matter in Ambient Air: First Field Experiment in an Urban Mediterranean Area (Nador, Morocco)
title_sort gaseous pollutants and particulate matter in ambient air first field experiment in an urban mediterranean area nador morocco
topic Western Mediterranean Basin
Measurement campaigns
PM10
PM2.5
Black carbon
url https://doi.org/10.4209/aaqr.220451
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