The concentration of trace elements in the aerosol can be determined by both natural and anthropogenic sources. In fact, many metals can be found in traces naturally distributed in various minerals or they can be present in the atmosphere due to transport over long distances during rare natural events. However, their significant presence in the atmospheric particulate is mainly derived from fossil fuel combustion, industrial activities and other human activities. The study of the possible emission sources, as well as their seasonal trends is of significant environmental and health importance (Kar, 2009). The present work is focused on showing part of the main results obtained within the frame of the project Munich Mobility Research Campus (MORE). The main objective of this project is to completely transform the University Campus of Federal Armed Forces in Munich (Universität der Bundeswehr München) into a model city for the mobility of the future. In parallel to the main goal, it is necessary to carefully analyse the air quality inside the campus area, to characterise it, and to identify potential emission sources affecting it. A sampling station (Figure 1) was established within the university campus and it included several tmospheric particulate matter (PM2.5) samplers (high-volume, Digitel DHA-80 and low-volume Leckel SEQ 47/50), a meteorological station and an optical particle spectrometer (OPS, Horiba APDA-372). Starting from 2022, an extensive sampling campaign began on a daily basis. The present study focuses mainly on the analysis and quantification of trace elements in PM2.5 samples, collected from March 2022 to March 2023. Samples were collected on quartz fiber filters (Ø = 150 mm, Whatman QMA) with a high-volume sampling system. Samples were extracted following the procedure suggested in the DIN EN 14902 and then analysed by ICPMS/MS (Agilent 8900 Triple Quadrupole) for the quantification of the elemental fraction. All data (both elemental concentrations, meteorological, and OPS data) were then extensively analysed with chemometric methods. Principal component analysis (PCA), also with Varimax rotation, self-organising maps (SOM), and positive matrix factorization (PMF) were applied to fully evaluate the pollution sources in Munich, the different impacts over the seasons, and, when possible, in particular for OPS data, also the intra-day variability. Results have shown that Munich airshed is exposed to the typical urban pollution, due to traffic, industrial emissions (in particular, it is noticeable the presence of a coal-fired power plant), and biomass burning for house heating. However, also some external factors influence Munich pollution, such as some peculiar Saharan dust events that impacted the Southern Germany at the end of March 2022 (Padoan et al, 2024, under review).     «

The concentration of trace elements in the aerosol can be determined by both natural and anthropogenic sources. In fact, many metals can be found in traces naturally distributed in various minerals or they can be present in the atmosphere due to transport over long distances during rare natural events. However, their significant presence in the atmospheric particulate is mainly derived from fossil fuel combustion, industrial activities and other human activities. The study of the possible emissi...    »