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The contribution of regional, urban and traffic sources to PM_2.5 and PM₁₀ in an urban area was investigated in this study. The chemical composition of PM_2.5 and PM₁₀ was measured over a year at a street location and up- and down-wind of the city of Rotterdam, the Netherlands. The ¹⁴C content in EC and OC concentrations was also determined, to distinguish the contribution from “modern” carbon (e.g., biogenic emissions, biomass burning and wildfires) and fossil fuel combustion. It was concluded that the urban background of PM_2.5 and PM₁₀ is dominated by the regional background, and that primary and secondary PM emission by urban sources contribute less than 15%. The ¹⁴C analysis revealed that 70% of OC originates from modern carbon and 30% from fossil fuel combustion. The corresponding percentages for EC are, respectively 17% and 83%. It is concluded that in particular the urban population …