A Preliminary Apportionment of the Sources of Fine Particulates Impacting on the Israeli Coast

The Chemical Mass Balance (CMB) receptor model was used to apportion the sources of PM 2.5 aerosol (particulate matter with aerodynamic diameter <2.5 μm) sampled during a limited period at Caesarea, a site located in northern Israel along the Mediterranean coast, from late May to early June, 1993, a period corresponding to the time of year when air mass transport from Europe is frequent. Observed PM 2.5 concentrations averaged 25.5 μg/m 3 during the sampling period, with sulfate accounting for the majority (>50%) of the total observed mass. Source contribution estimates predicted by the CMB receptor model were similar for all periods, with predicted ammonium sulfate, mobile source, coal‐fired power plants, marine aerosol, and residual oil combustion contributions of 74, 14, 9, 3, and 0.3%, respectively. Transport (coupled with transformation) sources accounted for almost 97% of the ambient particulate loadings observed in this preliminary study.