Characterization of PM₁₀ sources in the Riotinto copper mining district (SW Spain) using multi-time-resolution...

Mining activities significantly contribute to the emission of heavy metals and metalloids to the atmosphere. Identifying and quantifying the different emission sources is a key aspect in characterizing the air quality of a region. This year-long study (July 2024-July 2025) aimed to comprehensively characterize PM₁₀ sources in the Riotinto copper mining district (southwestern Spain) using a highly time-resolved X-ray fluorescence monitor and an Aethalometer, together with a high-volume sampler operating on a daily basis with quartz fiber filters. Filters were chemically analyzed for multiple pollutants. High-time-resolution (1-h) and low-time-resolution (24-h) data subsets were integrated within a multi-time-resolution positive matrix factorization approach. The source apportionment analysis identified seven major PM₁₀ sources: Waste Rock (4.9 µg·m^-3), Regional + Traffic (3.6 µg·m^-3), Dust (1.1 µg·m^-3), Open Pit (1.6 µg·m^-3), Aged Marine (1.2 µg·m^-3), Copper Concentrate (0.7 µg·m^-3), and Combustion (1.2 µg·m^-3). The incorporation of species measured at daily resolution enabled the identification of traffic tracers and secondary organic aerosol in several factors, which was not possible using only the hourly-resolution subset. During the study period, As represented the main geochemical anomaly because of its elevated concentration. This work highlights the need to conduct high-time-resolution studies to improve the understanding of the levels and temporal variability of chemical pollutants with harmful effects on human health. It also emphasizes the advantages of combining data with different temporal resolutions in source apportionment analyses for a better characterization of emission sources in environmentally vulnerable areas.