Few air pollutant studies within the Palestinian territories have been reported in the literature. In March–April and May–June of 2018, three low-cost, locally calibrated particulate monitors (AirU’s) were deployed at different elevations and source areas throughout the city of Nablus in Northern West Bank, Palestine. During each of the three-week periods, high but site-to-site similar particulate matter less than 2.5 µm in aerodynamic diameter (PM_2.5) and less than 10 µm (PM₁₀) concentrations were observed. The PM_2.5 concentrations at the three sampling locations and during both sampling periods averaged 38.2 ± 3.6 µg/m³, well above the World Health Organization’s (WHO) 24 h guidelines. Likewise, the PM₁₀ concentrations exceeded or were just below the WHO’s 24 h guidelines, averaging 48.5 ± 4.3 µg/m³. During both periods, short episodes were identified in which the particulate levels at all three sites increased substantially (≈2×) above the regional baseline. Air mass back trajectory analyses using U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) Hybrid Single-Particle Lagrangian Integrated Trajectory (HYSPLIT) model suggested that, during these peak episodes, the arriving air masses spent recent days over desert areas (e.g., the Saharan Desert in North Africa). On days with regionally low PM_2.5 concentrations (≈20 µg/m³), back trajectory analysis showed that air masses were directed in from the Mediterranean Sea area. Further, the lower elevation (downtown) site often recorded markedly higher particulate levels than the valley wall sites. This would suggest locally derived particulate sources are significant and may be beneficial in the identification of potential remediation options.

Title

Atmosphere

Publisher

MDPI

Publisher Country

Eswatini

Indexing

Scopus

Impact Factor

None

Publication Type

Both (Printed and Online)

Volume

10

Year

2019

Pages

539