Ionic composition of PM2.5 at urban sites of northern Greece: secondary inorganic aerosol formation.

This study investigates the water-soluble ionic constituents (Na(+), K(+), NH4 (+), Ca(2+), Mg(2+), Cl(-), NO3 (-), SO4 (2-)) associated to PM2.5 particle fraction at two urban sites in the city of Thessaloniki, northern Greece, an urban traffic site (UT) and urban background site (UB). Ionic constituents represent a significant fraction of PM2.5 mass (29.6 at UT and 41.5 % at UB). The contribution of marine aerosol was low (<1.5 %). Secondary inorganic aerosols (SIA) represent a significant fraction of PM2.5 mass contributing to 26.9 ± 12.4 % and 39.2 ± 13.2 % at UT and UB sites, respectively. Nitrate and sulfate are fully neutralized by ammonium under the existing conditions. The ionic constituents were evaluated in relation to their spatial and temporal variation, their gaseous precursors, meteorological conditions, local and long-range transport.