Origin-Oriented Elemental Profile of Fine Ambient Particulate Matter in Central European Suburban Conditions

Twenty-four-hour samples of fine ambient particulate matter (PM(2.5); particles with aerodynamic diameters ≤2.5 µm) were collected in a suburban (quasi-rural) area in Racibórz (Poland) between 1 January 2011 and 26 December 2012. The samples were analyzed for the contents of 28 elements. Sources of PM(2.5) were identified and the contribution of each source to the PM(2.5) concentration was assessed using an enrichment factor (EF) analysis, a principal component analysis (PCA), and multi-linear regression analysis (MLRA). In the cold season (January–March and October–December 2011–2012), the mean ambient concentration of PM(2.5) in Racibórz was 48.7 ± 39.4 µg·m(−3), which was much higher than at other suburban or rural sites in Europe. Additionally the ambient concentrations of some toxic PM(2.5)-bound elements were also high, i.e., the mean ambient concentrations of PM(2.5)-bound As, Cd, and Pb were 11.3 ± 11.5, 5.2 ± 2.5, and 34.0 ± 34.2 ng·m(−3), respectively. In the warm season (April–September 2011–2012), the PM(2.5) and PM(2.5)-bound element concentrations in Racibórz were comparable to the concentrations noted at other suburban (or rural) sites in Europe. Our findings suggest that elemental composition and concentrations of PM(2.5) in Racibórz are mainly influenced by anthropogenic emissions, i.e., the energy production based on coal and biomass combustion, traffic, and industry.