Abstract
Atmospheric aerosols were analyzed for hydrogen, calcium, magnesium, potassium, chlorine, ammonium, nitrate, and sulfate ions. These ions are the main components of the particulate water soluble fraction of the aerosols sampled. Ion balance studied revealed that the main compounds present were ammonium sulfate, ammonium nitrate, and ammonium chloride in polluted aerosols and sodium chloride and magnesium chloride in maritime aerosols. Backward air mass trajectories indicated that NH 4cl is produced locally, NH 4no 3 has a local to medium-distance origin, and (NH 4) 2so 4 has transported over long distances.