Elemental analysis of airborne particulates collected in a site near downtown Mexico City have been performed. The samples were taken during one week of every season in 1988, Twenty three elements, from sodium to lead, were detected by Proton Induced X-ray Emission (PIXE). In addition, soot contents was determined by laser Integrating Plate Method (LIPM). Concentrations of these elements show hourly variations during the day, with maximum values in the period from 6 to 12 A.M. An overall tendency toward maximum elemental concentrations is observed in the winter season, especially for primary anthropogenic pollutants, as was anticipated based upon the frequency of thermal inversions.
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Aldape et al. (1991) studied this question.