PM(2.5) chemical composition and geographical origin of air masses in Cape Town, South Africa

PM(2.5) in the indoor and outdoor environment has been linked in epidemiology studies to the symptoms, hospital admissions and development of numerous health outcomes including death. The study was conducted during April 2017 and April 2018. PM(2.5) samples were collected over 24 h and every third day. The mean PM(2.5) level was 13.4 μg m(−3) (range: 1.17–39.1 μg m(−3)). PM(2.5) levels exceeded the daily World Health Organization air quality guideline (25 μg m(−3)) on 14 occasions. The mean soot level was 1.38 m(−1) × 10(−5) (range: 0 to 5.38 m(−1) × 10(−5)). Cl(−), NO(3)(−), SO(4)(2−), Al, Ca, Fe, Mg, Na and Zn were detected in the PM(2.5) samples. The geographical origin of air masses that passed Cape Town was estimated using the Hybrid Single Particle Lagrangian Integrated Trajectory software. Four air masses were identified in the cluster analysis: Atlantic-Ocean-WSW, Atlantic-Ocean-SW, Atlantic-Ocean-SSW and Indian-Ocean. The population of Cape Town may experience various health outcomes from the outdoor exposure to PM(2.5) and the chemical composition of PM(2.5). ELECTRONIC SUPPLEMENTARY MATERIAL: The online version of this article (10.1007/s11869-020-00947-y) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.