Chemical characteristics of settled particles during a dust-storm

Major synoptic systems bring desert dust from Arabia and the Sahara to Anatolia, Turkey. A study of particulate matter (PM) associated metal content such as As, Al, Cr, Cd, Co, Cu, Fe, Mn, Mo, Ni, Pb, Sb, Se, Sn, and Zn, etc., has been carried out for Diyarbakir, SE Anatolia, Turkey. Results show that the PM₁₀ levels during a dust storm were much higher than in a non-dust-storm period and that four metals (Fe, Al, Cr, Mn) were dominant in settled particles. This research does not only provide background data for air quality management, but also provides valuable information about the chemical composition of the particles.