Composición Elemental y Fuentes de Origen de Partículas Respirables (PM10) y Partículas Suspendidas Totales (PST) en el Área Urbana de la Ciudad de Riohacha, Colombia

This research evaluated the concentration, elemental composition and sources of origin of particle PM10 and TSP. Fifteen chemical elements (As, Cd, Ca, Zn, Cu, Cr, Co, Fe, Mg, Mn, Ni, Pb, K, Na and V) were determined using atomic absorption spectrometry. Levels of PM10 (19.4 and 51 µg/m3) and TSP (27.6 and 53.7 µg/m3) did not exceed international standards. The enrichment factor (EF) showed that the soil tracer elements are associated with TSP particles while elements of anthropogenic origin are associated with PM 10 particles. Zn, Cu and Co, showed strong enrichment in PM10 and TSP in the two stations, concluding that are elements of anthropogenic origin. For the group of soil trace elements: Na, As, Pb and Ni, showed a moderate enrichment. The results showed that elements such as Mg, Mn, V and K originated from the natural process of soil.