Identification of sources of aerosol particles in three locations in eastern Botswana

Abstract

Airborne particles have been collected using a dichotomous virtual impactor at three different locations in the eastern part of Botswana: Serowe, Selibe‐Phikwe, and Francistown. The particles were separated into two fractions (fine and coarse). Sampling at the three locations was done consecutively during the months of July and August, which are usually dry and stable. The sampling time for each sample was 12 hours during the day. For elemental composition, energy‐dispersive x‐ray fluorescence technique was used. Correlations and principal component analysis with varimax rotation were used to identify major sources of aerosol particles. In all the three places, soil was found to be the main source of aerosol particles. A copper‐nickel mine and smelter at Selibe‐Phikwe was found to be not only a source of copper and nickel particles in Selibe‐Phikwe but also a source of these particles in far places like Serowe. In Selibe‐Phikwe and Francistown, car exhaust was found to be the major source of fine particles of lead and bromine.