Chemistry of individual aerosol particles from Chandler, Arizona, an arid urban environment

Atmospheric aerosol particles were chemically analyzed with an automated scanning EM. The fine-particle fraction contains numerous types of Pb-, Cu-, Zn-, P-, and S-bearing particles, most of probable anthropogenic origin. The concentrations of selected particle types have been tracked over the sampling period, providing information about particle emission and transport. The concentrations of particle types containing one or more metals and S were strongly dependent upon prevailing wind direction; the predominant source was copper smelters. Other particle types probably had local sources.