CHARACTERIZATION AND COMPARISON OF SPECIATED ATMOSPHERIC CARBONACEOUS PARTICULATES AND THEIR POLYCYCLIC AROMATIC HYDROCARBON CONTENTS IN THE CONTEXT OF THE PASO DEL NORTE AIRSHED ALONG THE U.S.-MEXICO BORDER

Carbonaceous particulate matter (PM) was collected by both thermal precipitation and glass fiber filters from specific combustion sources and examined by transmission electronmicroscopy (TEM) and field emissions canning electron microscopy (FESEM). PM from various natural as burner combustion regimes (NGPM), burning tires (TPM), a heavy duty diesel truck (DPM), wood burning (WPM), candle burning (CPM), along with commercial black carbon (BC) powder and multiwall carbon nanotube (MWCNT) aggregates material exhibited similarities in PM microstructure, and average primary spherule diameters.