Study of atmospheric particulate matter in Buenos Aires city

The data reported here constitute the results of the first long-term monitoring campaign of daily PM10 and PM2.5 concentration levels in Buenos Aires city. Twenty-four hour averages atmospheric concentrations of PM10 and PM2.5 were measured (not simultaneously) at a site near downtown Buenos Aires, since December 1998–September 1999. The values of PM2.5 concentrations correlate well with the concentrations of carbon monoxide (CO) during the winter period, indicating that direct traffic emissions have an important contribution to PM2.5. The data are less correlated for the case of PM10, indicating that the sources of the coarse fraction are not only traffic emissions, with an important contribution of other sources, for example re-suspended material. Scanning electron microscopy and atomic force microscopy images of atmospheric particles on nucleopore filters are shown. Information about the ion and metal content of these particles is reported.