Between June and September 2018, particulate matter (PM) samples were taken in the Sartenejas Valley, southeast of Greater Caracas, Venezuela. The aim was to evaluate the morphology and the elemental chemical composition of particulate matter and establish possible emission sources during the rainy season. Functional groups were identified by FTIR spectroscopic analysis, and morphology and elemental composition were obtained by SEM–EDX analysis. The sampling period coincided with a Sahara dust storm. The SEM–EDX and FTIR analyses found evidence of mineral elements related to soil and crustal origins. The presence of C-rich or C-containing aerosols is related to biological sources or mineral carbon. SEM–EDX analysis of PM revealed the following particle groups: geogenic, metallic, C-rich, and secondary aerosols. Quantitative source appointments through principal component analysis (PCA) corroborated PM sources, including soil dust, sea salts, and reacted aerosols. According to the authors’ knowledge, this study represents the first report to indicate that an episode of African dust could influence the particles collected in an intertropical continental sector in Venezuela, South America.

2018 年 6 月至 9 月期间，在委内瑞拉大加拉加斯东南部的 Sartenejas 山谷采集了颗粒物 (PM) 样本。目的是评估颗粒物的形态和元素化学成分，并确定雨季可能的排放源。通过FTIR光谱分析鉴定官能团，通过SEM-EDX分析获得形态和元素组成。采样期间恰逢撒哈拉沙尘暴。SEM-EDX 和 FTIR 分析发现了与土壤和地壳起源相关的矿物元素的证据。富碳或含碳气溶胶的存在与生物来源或矿物碳有关。PM 的 SEM-EDX 分析揭示了以下颗粒群：地质成因、金属、富碳和二次气溶胶。通过主成分分析 (PCA) 进行的定量源指定证实了 PM 源，包括土壤灰尘、海盐和反应气溶胶。根据作者的知识，这项研究是第一份表明非洲尘埃事件可能影响在南美洲委内瑞拉热带大陆地区收集的颗粒的报告。