We describe a method to estimate pollution profiles and contribution levels for distinct prominent pollution sources in a region based on daily pollutant concentration measurements from multiple measurement stations over a period of time. In an extension of existing work, we will estimate common source profiles but distinct contribution levels based on measurements from each station. In addition, we will explore the possibility of extending existing work to allow adjustments for synoptic regimes—large scale weather patterns which may effect the amount of pollution measured from individual sources as well as for particular pollutants. For both extensions we propose Bayesian methods to estimate pollution source profiles and contributions.

This study aimed at providing a thorough understanding of temporal and spatial variations of VOCs and underlying factors in different microenvironments in two different urban atmospheres, with different degrees of regulatory enforcement. The VOC data were collected in field campaigns conducted in Ankara, Turkey, and Ottawa, Canada over the years 2000-2004. Insight into the sources of VOCs in different urban atmospheres was sought by using three commonly used receptor models namely / Positive Matrix Factorization (PMF), Chemical Mass Balance (CMB) Model and Conventional Factor Analysis (CFA). Motor vehicle related source profiles were developed to use in receptor modeling. Motor vehicles are the most abundant VOC sources with about 60% and 95% contributions to ambient levels in Ankara and Ottawa, respectively. Residential heating (31%) during winter season, biogenic (9%) and architectural coating (12%) emissions during summer season and solvent use (about 12%) emissions are the next abundant VOC sources in Ankara. In addition, a new method to estimate the contribution of sources from wind sectors in urban atmosphere was developed and implemented in this study. The comparison of the results of these two cities demonstrated the influence of control measures on ambient levels and sources of VOCs observed in different urban atmospheres. VOC levels in Ankara exceed EU levels and they are about factor of two higher than that are measured in Ottawa owing to lack of implementation of emission control regulations for VOCs in Ankara compared to well adopted regulations in Ottawa.

Os Fatores de Crescimento de Fibroblastos (\"Fibroblast Growth Factors\"; FGFs) participam de fenômenos biológicos de grande importância, tais como migração, divisão e diferenciação celulares. O presente trabalho teve como objetivo central a busca de compostos biologicamente ativos através de um desenho racional de peptídeos derivados do FGF-1 e do seu receptor (FGFR-1 ). A partir da análise dos dados disponíveis na literatura, aliada a técnicas de modelagem molecular, foram desenhados, sintetizados e testados dois grupos de peptídeos. O primeiro conjunto (R1 - R3) é constituído por peptídeos lineares derivados do FGFR-1. Os ensaios de atividade mitogênica dos FGFs 1 e 2 em presença dos peptídeos mostram que R1 e R2 foram capazes de inibir a ação mitogênica do FGF-1. Este efeito é seletivo, já que a atividade do FGF-2 não é afetada. A atividade inibitória é dose-dependente para ambos os peptídeos. Os resultados mostram ainda que o efeito é sequência-dependente, já que o peptídeo R3, correspondente à porção e-terminal de R2, é inativo. Por outro lado, o segmento N-terminal de R2 (representado por R1) é suficiente para desencadear o mesmo nível de inibição apresentado pelo peptídeo R2 inteiro. Os peptídeos sintéticos semi-cíclicos F1 - F3, correspondentes a um importante sítio de ligação no FGF-1, foram avaliados quanto à sua capacidade de estimular a síntese de DNA em fibroblastos em cultura. Os dados obtidos mostram que, na faixa de concentração testada (0,1 a 200 µM), o peptídeo F1 é inativo. O peptídeo F2 apresentou atividade mitogênica (ED50 = 60 -70 µM), estimulando a incorporação de timidina tritiada em até 66 % do valor máximo induzido por 10% de soro fetal bovino. Na mesma faixa de concentração, o peptídeo F3 apresentou atividade em níveis inferiores (ED50 > 100 µM) aos apresentados pelo peptídeo F2. Estes resultados indicam que os peptídeos F2 e F3 poderiam mimetizar a superfície correspondente a um sítio de ligação do FGF-1 ao receptor. Além disso, o fato de F2 ser mais ativo que F3 indica que, além dos resíduos hidrofóbicos Y e L (presentes em ambos), o resíduo R presente em F2 exerce um importante papel para a atividade mitogênica do peptídeo. Como já proposto por nós em trabalhos anteriores, os dados apresentados indicam que é possível obter compostos com atividade mitogênica através do desenho racional de estruturas peptídicas derivadas dos FGFs. A análise do conjunto de peptídeos estudados até o momento revela a existência de características químicas comuns a todos aqueles que se mostraram mitogênicos, ou seja, a presença de um núcleo hidrofóbico flanqueado por resíduos polares carregados. / The Fibroblast Growth Factors (FGFs) are involved in very important biological processes like cell migration, division and differentiation. The aim of this work was the search of biologically active compounds through a rational design of peptides derived from FGF-1 and its receptor (FGFR-1). On the basis on several data available in the literature and with the aid of molecular modeling techniques, we designed, synthesized and tested two sets of peptides. The first group (R1-R3) is composed by linear peptides derived from FGFR-1. The mitogenic activity assays of FGF-1 and FGF-2 in the presence of these peptides reveal that R1 and R2 were able to inhibit the mitogenic response elicited by FGF-1. This effect is dose-dependent and selective, since the FGF-2 activity was not affected. Also, the inhibitory activity is sequence-dependent since peptide R3, corresponding to the e-terminal stretch of R2, was inactive. On the other hand, the N-terminal segment of peptide R2, represented by R1, is sufficient to elicit about the same response observed for the longer peptide R2. The semi-cyclic synthetic peptides F1 - F3, corresponding to an important FGF-1 binding site, were tested for their ability to stimulate DNA synthesis on fibroblast cultures. The results show that F1 is inactive in the range tested (0.1 to 200 µM). Peptide F2 was able to elicit a mitogenic activity (ED50 = 60 - 70 µM), stimulating the incorporation of [methyl-3H] thymidine to a level corresponding to 66 % of the maximum response induced by 10 % fetal calf serum. In the same range, peptide F3 was less active (ED50 > 100 µM). These results suggest that peptides F2 and F3 could mimic a surface corresponding to a receptor binding site of FGF-1. Also, the better performance of F2 could be explained by the presence of the residue R (besides Y and L) that could be important to elicit a mitogenic response. These results, together with those presented in former papers, indicate that it is possible to obtain compounds with mitogenic activity through the rational design of peptides derived from the FGFs. The analysis of the assembly of peptides studied allow us to define a chemical pattern shared by all the mitogenic compounds obtained until now, namely the presence of a hydrophobic core flanked by polar charged residues.

Os Fatores de Crescimento de Fibroblastos (\"Fibroblast Growth Factors\"; FGFs) participam de fenômenos biológicos de grande importância, tais como migração, divisão e diferenciação celulares. O presente trabalho teve como objetivo central a busca de compostos biologicamente ativos através de um desenho racional de peptídeos derivados do FGF-1 e do seu receptor (FGFR-1 ). A partir da análise dos dados disponíveis na literatura, aliada a técnicas de modelagem molecular, foram desenhados, sintetizados e testados dois grupos de peptídeos. O primeiro conjunto (R1 - R3) é constituído por peptídeos lineares derivados do FGFR-1. Os ensaios de atividade mitogênica dos FGFs 1 e 2 em presença dos peptídeos mostram que R1 e R2 foram capazes de inibir a ação mitogênica do FGF-1. Este efeito é seletivo, já que a atividade do FGF-2 não é afetada. A atividade inibitória é dose-dependente para ambos os peptídeos. Os resultados mostram ainda que o efeito é sequência-dependente, já que o peptídeo R3, correspondente à porção e-terminal de R2, é inativo. Por outro lado, o segmento N-terminal de R2 (representado por R1) é suficiente para desencadear o mesmo nível de inibição apresentado pelo peptídeo R2 inteiro. Os peptídeos sintéticos semi-cíclicos F1 - F3, correspondentes a um importante sítio de ligação no FGF-1, foram avaliados quanto à sua capacidade de estimular a síntese de DNA em fibroblastos em cultura. Os dados obtidos mostram que, na faixa de concentração testada (0,1 a 200 µM), o peptídeo F1 é inativo. O peptídeo F2 apresentou atividade mitogênica (ED50 = 60 -70 µM), estimulando a incorporação de timidina tritiada em até 66 % do valor máximo induzido por 10% de soro fetal bovino. Na mesma faixa de concentração, o peptídeo F3 apresentou atividade em níveis inferiores (ED50 > 100 µM) aos apresentados pelo peptídeo F2. Estes resultados indicam que os peptídeos F2 e F3 poderiam mimetizar a superfície correspondente a um sítio de ligação do FGF-1 ao receptor. Além disso, o fato de F2 ser mais ativo que F3 indica que, além dos resíduos hidrofóbicos Y e L (presentes em ambos), o resíduo R presente em F2 exerce um importante papel para a atividade mitogênica do peptídeo. Como já proposto por nós em trabalhos anteriores, os dados apresentados indicam que é possível obter compostos com atividade mitogênica através do desenho racional de estruturas peptídicas derivadas dos FGFs. A análise do conjunto de peptídeos estudados até o momento revela a existência de características químicas comuns a todos aqueles que se mostraram mitogênicos, ou seja, a presença de um núcleo hidrofóbico flanqueado por resíduos polares carregados. / The Fibroblast Growth Factors (FGFs) are involved in very important biological processes like cell migration, division and differentiation. The aim of this work was the search of biologically active compounds through a rational design of peptides derived from FGF-1 and its receptor (FGFR-1). On the basis on several data available in the literature and with the aid of molecular modeling techniques, we designed, synthesized and tested two sets of peptides. The first group (R1-R3) is composed by linear peptides derived from FGFR-1. The mitogenic activity assays of FGF-1 and FGF-2 in the presence of these peptides reveal that R1 and R2 were able to inhibit the mitogenic response elicited by FGF-1. This effect is dose-dependent and selective, since the FGF-2 activity was not affected. Also, the inhibitory activity is sequence-dependent since peptide R3, corresponding to the e-terminal stretch of R2, was inactive. On the other hand, the N-terminal segment of peptide R2, represented by R1, is sufficient to elicit about the same response observed for the longer peptide R2. The semi-cyclic synthetic peptides F1 - F3, corresponding to an important FGF-1 binding site, were tested for their ability to stimulate DNA synthesis on fibroblast cultures. The results show that F1 is inactive in the range tested (0.1 to 200 µM). Peptide F2 was able to elicit a mitogenic activity (ED50 = 60 - 70 µM), stimulating the incorporation of [methyl-3H] thymidine to a level corresponding to 66 % of the maximum response induced by 10 % fetal calf serum. In the same range, peptide F3 was less active (ED50 > 100 µM). These results suggest that peptides F2 and F3 could mimic a surface corresponding to a receptor binding site of FGF-1. Also, the better performance of F2 could be explained by the presence of the residue R (besides Y and L) that could be important to elicit a mitogenic response. These results, together with those presented in former papers, indicate that it is possible to obtain compounds with mitogenic activity through the rational design of peptides derived from the FGFs. The analysis of the assembly of peptides studied allow us to define a chemical pattern shared by all the mitogenic compounds obtained until now, namely the presence of a hydrophobic core flanked by polar charged residues.

In recent years, the celebration activities of various types of folk-custom festivals in Taiwan have already been getting more and more attention from civilians. Festivities throughout the whole island are traditionally accompanied by loud and brightly colored firework displays. Among these activities, the firework display during the Chinese Lantern Festival in Kaohsiung City is one of the largest festivals in Taiwan every year. Therefore, it is important to investigate the influences of firework displays on ambient air quality during the Chinese Lantern Festival in Kaohsiung City. Field measurement of ambient gaseous pollutants and particulate matter (PM) was conducted on February 9-12, 2009, the Chinese Lantern Festival, in Kaohsiung City. Moreover, three kinds of firework powders obtained from the same factory producing Kaohsiung Lantern Festival fireworks were burned in a combustion chamber to determine the physicochemical properties of firework aerosols. Metallic elements were analyzed with an inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectrometer (ICP-AES). Ionic species and carbonaceous contents in the PM samples were analyzed with an ion chromatography (IC) and an elemental analyzer (EA), respectively. Finally, the source identification and apportionment of PM were analyzed by principal component analysis (PCA), enrichment factor (EF), and receptor modeling (CMB). For inorganic gaseous pollutants, the concentration peaks of NO, NO2, O3, CO were observed during the firework periods, and the concentration peak of NO was approximately 8.8 times higher than those during the non-firework periods. This study further revealed that, even at nighttime, ambient O3 could be reduced dramatically during the firework periods, whenas NO2 concentration increased concurrently, due to titration effects resulting from the prompt reaction of NO with O3 to form NO2 and O2. For organic gaseous pollutants, the concentration peak of toluene during the firework periods was approximately 2.2-4.1 times higher than those during the non-firework periods. Several metallic elements of PM during the firework display periods were obviously higher than those during the non-firework periods. On February 10, the concentrations of Mg, K, Pb, and Sr in PM2.5 were 10 times higher than those during the non-firework periods. Besides, the Cl-/Na+ ratio was slightly smaller than 1 in Kaohsiung Harbor, but it was approximately 3 during the firework display periods since Cl- came form chlorine content in firework aerosols at this time. Moreover, OC/EC ratio increased up to 2.8. In addition to the analysis of gaseous pollutants and PM during the Chinese Lantern Festival in Kaohsiung City, this study burned firework powders in a self-designed combustion chamber to measure the physicochemical properties of firework aerosols. In the results, K, Mg, Cl-, OC were major contents (<10%) in the aerosols produced from the burning firework powders. Moreover, Cl-/Na+ and OC/EC ratio were 15.0~23.4 and 2.9~3.2, respectively. Consequently, Cl-/Na+ and OC/EC ratio can be used as two important indicators of firework displays. Results obtained from PCA and CMB receptor modeling showed that the major sources of aerosols during the firework display periods were firework displays, motor/diesel vehicle exhanst, soil dusts, and marine aerosols. Besides, the firework displays on February 10 contributed approximately 25.2% and 16.6% of PM10 at two sampling sites, respectively.

The assessment of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) has become an area of particular interest in the field of atmospheric pollution due to their adverse health and environmental effects. This study is aimed to identify, quantify and characterize VOC in different urban areas and industrial areas in Bursa. The spatial distribution, seasonal variation as well as health risks assessment of VOC were discussed. Air samples were collected by means of sorbent passive sampling at over 50 sampling points in Bursa and analyzed by GC-thermal desorption. A total of seven weekly measurement periods were completed across the city center from 2005 to 2007. The source of VOC was apportioned with the commonly used receptor model, namely Factor Analysis. Motor vehicles and industrial solvent usage are the most abundant VOC sources to contribute to urban atmosphere in Bursa, 63% and 20%, respectively. The health risks of VOC were also evaluated. The questionnaire was filled out by selected people living in Bursa to obtain time-activity pattern for health risk assessment. Lifetime cancer risks were estimated with the measured VOC data. All the statistical parameters used to represent cancer risks for the selected compounds exceeded the stated level. Benzene had the highest adverse health effect among these compounds according to USEPA (2009) calculation with the mean cancer risk 3x10-4. In addition to intensive field sampling campaigns conducted in Bursa, the VOC measurement were completed for a period of six months to evaluate uptake rate of VOC in Ankara. Uptake rate equations depending on relative humidity and wind speed were developed for 25 VOCs.

Diversos estudos tiveram como objetivo determinar e caracterizar o aerossol atmosférico na cidade de São Paulo, quanto a seu tamanho e composição química, bem como encontrar as suas fontes emissoras e contribuições em massa para a região estudada. A coleta dos constituintes atmosféricos foi realizada na estação de amostragem do Laboratório de Análises dos Processos Atmosféricos (LAPAt) do Instituto de Astronomia, Geofísica e Ciências Atmosféricas (IAG) da Universidade de São Paulo (USP), localizada na zona oeste da cidade de São Paulo, geograficamente em 23°3334 S e 46°4400 O. O experimento foi realizado de 15 de agosto a 16 de setembro de 2016. Foram realizadas coletas de material particulado para análise da concentração em massa de sua fração fina inalável e composição química. A distribuição de tamanho para massa de material particulado foi determinada através da coleta com um impactador em cascata. A distribuição de tamanho para número foi obtida a partir de medidas com um Scanning Mobility Particle Sampler (SMPS) com o cálculo da concentração número de partículas (PNC) para o intervalo de 9 a 450 nm de diâmetro. Para estudar as relações entre os gases presentes na região amostrada com a radiação ultravioleta e com o PNC utilizamos os valores horários de concentrações dos gases (O3, NO, NO2 e NOX) e UV medidos na Rede Telemétrica da CETESB (Companhia de Tecnologia Ambiental do Estado de São Paulo). Os filtros coletados foram analisados pela técnica de Fluorescência de Raios-X dispersivo em energia (EDX). As concentrações de Black Carbon (BC) foram obtidas por refletância. Para a determinação das fontes de material particulado fino (MP2,5) foram utilizados os seguintes modelos receptores: Análise de Componentes Principais (ACP) e Fatoração de Matriz Positiva (FMP). Para análise de dispersão do poluente, utilizamos dados meteorológicos da estação climatológica do IAG situada no Parque do Estado. A concentração média de MP2,5 foi de 18,6 (±12,5) g/m³ e a concentração média de BC foi de 1,9 (±1,5) g/m³. As principais fontes encontradas, por ambos modelos receptores ACP e FMP, foram: veículos pesados (a diesel), veículos leves, queima de biomassa, ressuspensão de poeira de solo, pavimentos e construção, processos secundários e misturas de fontes. Os elementos-traço foram definidos em diferentes modas de tamanho: Al, Ca, Si e Ti com picos nas modas de acumulação, traçadores de ressuspensão de pavimento; Fe, Mn, P, K e Cr com picos na fração mais grossa da moda de acumulação, traçadores de emissões veiculares e queima de biomassa. Cu, Zn, Br, Pb, S e BC apresentam picos na fração mais fina da moda de acumulação, traçadores de emissões veiculares e queima de biomassa. / Several studies aimed to determine and characterize the atmospheric aerosol in the city of São Paulo, not only to its size and chemical composition, but as well as to find its emitting sources and mass contributions in the studied area. The atmospheric constituents were collected at the Laboratório de Análise dos Processos Atmosféricos (LAPAt) of the Institute of Astronomy, Geophysics and Atmospheric Sciences (IAG) of the University of São Paulo (USP), located in the western zone of the city of São Paulo Paulo, geographically at 23°33\'34\"S and 46°44\'00\" W. The experiment was conducted from August 15 to September 16 of 2016. Samples of particulate matter were collected to analyze the mass concentration and chemical composition of its inhalable fine fraction. The particulate mass size distribution was determined through the collection with a cascade impactor. The number size distribution was obtained from measurements with a Scanning Mobility Particle Sampler (SMPS) with the calculated number of particle concentration (PNC) for the range of 9 to 450 nm of the diameter. In order to study the relationships among the compounds present in the region and the PNC, we used the hourly values of the gaseous concentrations (O3, NO, NO2 and NOx) and UV measured in CETESB\'s Air Quality Telemetric Network in the State of São Paulo. The sampled filters were analyzed by the energy dispersive X-ray Fluorescence (EDX) technique to determine the elemental composition. The concentrations of Black Carbon (BC) were obtained by reflectance analysis. In order to determine the sources of fine particulate matter (PM2.5), the following Receptors Models were used: Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and Positive Matrix Factorization (PMF). For air pollution dispersion analysis, we used meteorological data from the IAG climatological station located in the Southeast of the city. The mean MP2.5 concentration was 18.6 (± 12.5) g/m³ and the mean concentration of BC was 1.9 (± 1.5) g/m³ for the sampling period. The main sources found by both ACP and PMF models were heavy-duty vehicles (diesel), light-duty vehicles, biomass burning, resuspension of soil dust, pavements and construction, secondary processes and mixed sources. The trace elements were defined at different size distributions: Al, Ca, Si and Ti with peaks in accumulation fraction (related to pavement resuspension tracers); Fe, Mn, P, K and Cr with peaks in the largest fraction of accumulation mode, characteristic of vehicular emissions tracer and biomass burning. Cu, Zn, Br, Pb, S and BC presented peaks in the finer fraction of the accumulation mode, related to vehicle emissions tracer and biomass burning.

Diversos estudos tiveram como objetivo determinar e caracterizar o aerossol atmosférico na cidade de São Paulo, quanto a seu tamanho e composição química, bem como encontrar as suas fontes emissoras e contribuições em massa para a região estudada. A coleta dos constituintes atmosféricos foi realizada na estação de amostragem do Laboratório de Análises dos Processos Atmosféricos (LAPAt) do Instituto de Astronomia, Geofísica e Ciências Atmosféricas (IAG) da Universidade de São Paulo (USP), localizada na zona oeste da cidade de São Paulo, geograficamente em 23°3334 S e 46°4400 O. O experimento foi realizado de 15 de agosto a 16 de setembro de 2016. Foram realizadas coletas de material particulado para análise da concentração em massa de sua fração fina inalável e composição química. A distribuição de tamanho para massa de material particulado foi determinada através da coleta com um impactador em cascata. A distribuição de tamanho para número foi obtida a partir de medidas com um Scanning Mobility Particle Sampler (SMPS) com o cálculo da concentração número de partículas (PNC) para o intervalo de 9 a 450 nm de diâmetro. Para estudar as relações entre os gases presentes na região amostrada com a radiação ultravioleta e com o PNC utilizamos os valores horários de concentrações dos gases (O3, NO, NO2 e NOX) e UV medidos na Rede Telemétrica da CETESB (Companhia de Tecnologia Ambiental do Estado de São Paulo). Os filtros coletados foram analisados pela técnica de Fluorescência de Raios-X dispersivo em energia (EDX). As concentrações de Black Carbon (BC) foram obtidas por refletância. Para a determinação das fontes de material particulado fino (MP2,5) foram utilizados os seguintes modelos receptores: Análise de Componentes Principais (ACP) e Fatoração de Matriz Positiva (FMP). Para análise de dispersão do poluente, utilizamos dados meteorológicos da estação climatológica do IAG situada no Parque do Estado. A concentração média de MP2,5 foi de 18,6 (±12,5) g/m³ e a concentração média de BC foi de 1,9 (±1,5) g/m³. As principais fontes encontradas, por ambos modelos receptores ACP e FMP, foram: veículos pesados (a diesel), veículos leves, queima de biomassa, ressuspensão de poeira de solo, pavimentos e construção, processos secundários e misturas de fontes. Os elementos-traço foram definidos em diferentes modas de tamanho: Al, Ca, Si e Ti com picos nas modas de acumulação, traçadores de ressuspensão de pavimento; Fe, Mn, P, K e Cr com picos na fração mais grossa da moda de acumulação, traçadores de emissões veiculares e queima de biomassa. Cu, Zn, Br, Pb, S e BC apresentam picos na fração mais fina da moda de acumulação, traçadores de emissões veiculares e queima de biomassa. / Several studies aimed to determine and characterize the atmospheric aerosol in the city of São Paulo, not only to its size and chemical composition, but as well as to find its emitting sources and mass contributions in the studied area. The atmospheric constituents were collected at the Laboratório de Análise dos Processos Atmosféricos (LAPAt) of the Institute of Astronomy, Geophysics and Atmospheric Sciences (IAG) of the University of São Paulo (USP), located in the western zone of the city of São Paulo Paulo, geographically at 23°33\'34\"S and 46°44\'00\" W. The experiment was conducted from August 15 to September 16 of 2016. Samples of particulate matter were collected to analyze the mass concentration and chemical composition of its inhalable fine fraction. The particulate mass size distribution was determined through the collection with a cascade impactor. The number size distribution was obtained from measurements with a Scanning Mobility Particle Sampler (SMPS) with the calculated number of particle concentration (PNC) for the range of 9 to 450 nm of the diameter. In order to study the relationships among the compounds present in the region and the PNC, we used the hourly values of the gaseous concentrations (O3, NO, NO2 and NOx) and UV measured in CETESB\'s Air Quality Telemetric Network in the State of São Paulo. The sampled filters were analyzed by the energy dispersive X-ray Fluorescence (EDX) technique to determine the elemental composition. The concentrations of Black Carbon (BC) were obtained by reflectance analysis. In order to determine the sources of fine particulate matter (PM2.5), the following Receptors Models were used: Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and Positive Matrix Factorization (PMF). For air pollution dispersion analysis, we used meteorological data from the IAG climatological station located in the Southeast of the city. The mean MP2.5 concentration was 18.6 (± 12.5) g/m³ and the mean concentration of BC was 1.9 (± 1.5) g/m³ for the sampling period. The main sources found by both ACP and PMF models were heavy-duty vehicles (diesel), light-duty vehicles, biomass burning, resuspension of soil dust, pavements and construction, secondary processes and mixed sources. The trace elements were defined at different size distributions: Al, Ca, Si and Ti with peaks in accumulation fraction (related to pavement resuspension tracers); Fe, Mn, P, K and Cr with peaks in the largest fraction of accumulation mode, characteristic of vehicular emissions tracer and biomass burning. Cu, Zn, Br, Pb, S and BC presented peaks in the finer fraction of the accumulation mode, related to vehicle emissions tracer and biomass burning.

In the studies underlying this thesis, various source tracing techniques were applied to environmental samples from the Baltic region. Comprehensive sampling and analysis of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs) and polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDFs) in surface sediments in Swedish coastal and offshore areas resulted in a unique data set for this region. Nearly 150 samples of surface sediments were analyzed for all tetra- to octa-chlorinated PCDD/Fs. The levels showed large spatial variability with hotspots in several coastal regions. Neither Sweden nor the EU has introduced guideline values for PCDD/Fs in sediment, but comparisons to available guidelines and quality standards from other countries indicate that large areas of primarily coastal sediments may constitute a risk to marine organisms. Multivariate pattern analysis techniques and receptor models, such as Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and Positive Matrix Factorization (PMF), were used to trace sources. These analyses suggested that three to six source types can explain most of the observed pattern variations found in the sediment samples. Atmospheric deposition was suggested as the most important source to offshore areas, thus confirming earlier estimates. However, spatial differences indicated a larger fraction of local/regional atmospheric sources, characterized by PCDFs, in the south. This was indicated by the identification of several patterns of atmospheric origin. In coastal areas, the influence of direct emission sources was larger, and among these, chlorophenol used for wood preservation and emissions from pulp/paper production and other wood related industry appeared to be most important. The historic emissions connected to processes involving chemical reactions with chlorine (e.g. pulp bleaching) were found to be of less importance except at some coastal sites. The analysis of PCDD/Fs in Baltic herring also revealed spatial variations in the levels and pollution patterns along the coast. The geographical match against areas with elevated sediment levels indicated that transfer from sediments via water to organisms was one possible explanation. Fugacity, a concept used to predict the net transport direction between environmental matrices, was used to explore the gas exchange of hexachlorocyclohexanes (HCHs) and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) between air and water. These estimates suggested that, in the Kattegat Sea, the gaseous exchange of HCHs primarily resulted in net deposition while PCBs were net volatilized under certain environmental conditions. The study also indicated that, while the air concentrations of both PCBs and γ-HCH are mostly dependent upon the origin of the air mass, the fluctuations in α-HCH were primarily influenced by seasonal changes.