Insufficient data on the chemical composition of PM_2.5 and its emission sources in the southwestern (SW) Mediterranean area has been identified. Ambient PM_2.5 samples were collected in an urban area of Tetouan city, northern Morocco. Chemical mass closure calculations and positive matrix factorization were performed for the comprehensive dataset of PM_2.5 chemical analyses. Mass closure improved when multipliers (1.2 and 0.23, respectively) were used for the conversion of organic carbon (OC) and calcium ion (Ca²⁺) into particulate organic matter (POM) and mineral dust masses, respectively. The mass closure model performed well in this SW Mediterranean region, with a significant correlation (r² = 0.97) obtained between gravimetrically measured and chemically determined PM_2.5 mass. The one-year average concentration of PM_2.5 was 17.96 μg/m³, and the major chemical components were POM (34%), secondary inorganic aerosol (SIA) (28%), and black carbon (18%), while unidentified mass was 4%. The mass concentration and most of the chemical components of PM_2.5 showed clear seasonal variations, with a summer-high and winter-low pattern for SIA, dust, and BC. In the winter months, POM was the dominant component. Source apportionment analysis revealed that PM_2.5 emission sources, regarding their typical tracers, were ammonium sulfate (SO₄²⁻, NH₄⁺, K⁺, NO₃⁻), road traffic and biomass burning emissions (OC, BC), fresh sea salt (Cl⁻, K⁺, NO₃⁻), aged sea salt (Mg²⁺, Na⁺, Ca²⁺), and oxalate-rich (oxalate, NO₃⁻) factors. Further, it is hoped that these findings help to improve the scientific understanding of SW Mediterranean aerosols.

Heavy metals in mine tailings induce severe environmental contamination of terrestrial ecosystems. They are hazardous to human health and must be cleaned up. However, ex-situ procedures are costly and soil-destroying. Phytoremediation approaches might be a cost-effective and environmentally...

The Water erosion of soils considered the main cause of soil degradation in Morocco. Soil erosion not only reduces agricultural productivity but also reduces water availability, and negatively contributes to the quality of drinking water sources. Consequently, the assessment of soil erosion risk...

Les performances de croissance de Jatropha curcas L. ont été étudiées sur divers substrats de la mine de plomb abandonnée de Zaida (Haute Moulouya, Maroc). Jatropha curcas montre une bonne installation malgré les teneurs élevées en Pb, Cu, Zn et As dans les substrats expérimentaux. L’accumulation des éléments traces métalliques (ETM) dans les différents compartiments de Jatropha curcas dépend du type du substrat sur lequel elle est plantée (argile de découvrement, résidus miniers, sol témoin). Le faible taux de translocation des ETM confère à Jatropha curcas un grand pouvoir de phytostabilisation.