PARTICLE-SIZE DISTRIBUTION OF MAJOR INORGANIC SPECIES IN ATMOSPHERIC AEROSOLS FROM MAJORCA (SPAIN)

Atmospheric aerosols collected by means of a cascade impaction system at the campus of the University of the Balearic Islands (Majorca, Spai n) from November 1993 to February 1994 were analysed for chloride, nit rate, sulphate, ammonium, calcium, magnesium, sodium and potassium. Ba sed on particle size distribution, the species studied were classified into three groups: (a) concentration decrease with particle size (sul phate and ammonium), (b) concentration increase with particle size (ch loride, calcium, magnesium and sodium), and (c) independent of particl e size (nitrate and potassium). A principal component analysis (PCA) r evealed a clear relationship between particle size and analyte origin. Also, the origin of sulphate and potassium fine and coarse particles was found to be different.