Key factors explaining PM₁₀ pollution in a large open-pit coal mine in northern Colombia

PM₁₀ levels were measured at seven nearby sites within six active pits of a large open-pit coal mine in northern Colombia. To identify the factors affecting the PM₁₀ mass concentrations, a 3-month campaign was carried out from March 01 to May 31, 2022. A multi-approach analysis was performed to explain the PM₁₀ levels. The Weather Research and Forecasting-CALifornia PUFF (WRF-CALPUFF) modeling system was used to determine the meteorology and PM₁₀ contributions from emission sources. During the monitoring campaign, two high pollution events of PM₁₀ took place, which involved emissions from coal mining, atmospheric stability conditions, a low planetary boundary layer height (PBLH), and emissions from regional biomass burning. Maximum daily PM₁₀ concentrations up to 60 µg m^-3 were reached. Out of the different analyzed trace elements through X-ray fluorescence, Fe and Cr had the highest mean daily concentrations with 541.5 ± 170.3 ng m^-3 and 85.1 ± 51.4 ng m^-3, respectively. Unpaved roads were observed to be the most significant source of discharging PM₁₀ into the atmosphere; however, regional biomass burning was also recognized as a contributor to the PM₁₀ levels variability. PBLH and wind speed proved to be critical factors in air pollution control in the open-pit mine.