Trace elements in atmospheric particulate matter over a coal burning power production area of western Macedonia, Greece Christina Petaloti a , Athanasios Triantafyllou b , Themistoklis Kouimtzis a , Constantini Samara a, * a Department of Chemistry, Environmental Pollution Control Laboratory, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, G-541 24 Thessaloniki, Greece b Laboratory of Environmental Physics and Technology, Department of Geotechnology and Environmental Engineering, Technological Education Institute (TEI) of West Macedonia, 50100 Kozani, Greece Received 23 February 2006; received in revised form 12 May 2006; accepted 19 May 2006 Available online 7 July 2006 Abstract Total suspended particle (TSP) concentrations were determined in the Eordea basin (western Macedonia, Greece), an area with inten- sive lignite burning for power generation. The study was conducted over a one-year period (November 2000–November 2001) at 10 sites located at variable distances from the power plants. Ambient TSP samples were analyzed for 27 major, minor and trace elements. Annual means of TSP concentrations ranged between 47 ± 33 lgm 3 and 110 ± 50 lgm 3 at 9 out of the 10 sites. Only the site closest to the power stations and the lignite conveyor belts exhibited annual TSP levels (210 ± 97 lgm 3 ) exceeding the European standard (150 lgm 3 , 80/779/EEC). Concentrations of TSP and almost all elemental components exhibited significant spatial variations; how- ever, the elemental profiles of TSP were quite similar among all sites suggesting that they are affected by similar source types. At all sites, statistical analysis indicated insignificant (P < 0.05) seasonal variation for TSP concentrations. Some elements (Cl, As, Pb, Br, Se, S, Cd) exhibited significantly higher concentrations at certain sites during the cold period suggesting more intense emissions from traffic, domes- tic heating and other combustion sources. On the contrary, concentrations significantly higher in the warm period were found at other sites mainly for crustal elements (Ti, Mn, K, P, Cr, etc.) suggesting stronger influence from soil resuspension and/or fly ash in the warm months. The most enriched elements against local soil or road dust were S, Cl, Cu, As, Se, Br, Cd and Pb, whereas negligible enrichment was found for Ti, Mn, Mg, Al, Si, P, Cr. At most sites, highest concentrations of TSP and elemental components were associated with low- to moderate-speed winds favoring accumulation of emissions from local sources. Influences from the power generation were likely at those sites located closest to the power plants and mining activities. Ó 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. Keywords: Total suspended particles; Enrichment factor; Fly ash; Heavy metals; Long-range transport; Power plants; Soil; Wind direction 1. Introduction Some of the most severe exposure to harmful air pollu- tants in Europe occurs near individual industrial plants and industrial areas, usually located outside large centers of population. Metal smelters, oil and coal fired power plants, chemical industry and oil refineries/petrochemical indus- tries are industrial sectors responsible for some of the major local air pollution problems in Europe (EEA, 1995). In some cities, air pollution from vehicular traffic and domestic heating is supplemented by that from local industry. A great deal of research has been focused on the chem- ical composition of atmospheric particulate matter, which however, may vary largely depending on the sources of par- ticles, the season of the year, the prevailing weather condi- tions and the chance for dispersion (Ro ¨o ¨sli et al., 2001). Several components of air particles including heavy metals, 0045-6535/$ - see front matter Ó 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. doi:10.1016/j.chemosphere.2006.05.053 * Corresponding author. Tel.: +30 310 997747; fax: +30 310 997747. E-mail address: csamara@chem.auth.gr (C. Samara). www.elsevier.com/locate/chemosphere Chemosphere 65 (2006) 2233–2243