Elemental composition of indoor particulate matter in response to heating facility at Sakaka City, Saudi Arabia

Abstract EN

.

Indoor and outdoor airborne particulate matter (PM10 and PM2.5) were sampled from homes with different heating facilities, located at Sakaka city, northern of Saudi Arabia during winter season.

Elemental composition of PM10 and PM2.5 samples, including Al, Ba, Be, Ca, Cd, Co, Cr, Fe, Ga, K, Li, Mg, Mn, Na, Ni, Pb, Se, Te and Tl, were analyzed using inductively coupled plasma-mass spectroscopy (ICP-MS).

Black carbon (BC) was also measured using EEL-type Smoke Stain Reflectometer.

Results showed that the highest indoor concentration PM2.5 (541.67 µg m–3) and PM10 (1201.39 µg m–3) were found at homes using wood burning as heating facility.

The most dominant metals were Na, Fe and Al in the investigated PM2.5 and PM10 samples.

The highest concentrations of black carbon were found in homes using wood burning as heating facility.

For similar homes in heating facilities, we can deduce that by increasing the number of smoking persons the value of BC increased.