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A very-low volume sampler of particulate matter (PM) on membrane filters, recently developed with the purpose of allowing spatially-resolved determination of PM and of its chemical components, was employed from December 2016 to February 2018 in a wide and dense monitoring network across Terni, an urban and industrial hot-spot of Central Italy (23 sampling sites, about 1 km between each other). Terni basin can be considered as an open air laboratory for studying the spatial distribution of PM, as it includes several spatially disaggregated sources. PM 10 samples were chemically characterized for the water-soluble and insoluble fraction of 33 elements (Al, As, Ba, Bi, Ca, Cd, Ce, Co, Cr, Cs, Cu, Fe, Ga, K, La, Li, Mg, Mn, Mo, Na, Nb, Ni, Pb, Rb, Sb, Sn, Sr, Ti, Tl, U, W, Zn, Zr). Spatial variability of the element concentrations across Terni was then mapped by using the ordinary kriging interpolation method. Spatial distribution of the analyzed elements successfully traced the various PM 10 sources. In particular, the spatial mapping of Ba (water-soluble fraction), Bi, Cu, Sb, Sn and Zr (insoluble fraction) traced PM 10 emission from the rail network and vehicular traffic, Ce, Cs, La, Li, Rb, Sr and U (insoluble fraction) traced soil resuspension, Cd, Cs, K, Rb and Tl (water-soluble fraction) biomass burning and Co, Cr, Mn, Nb, Ni, Pb (insoluble fraction), As, Cr, Ga, Li, Mo, Mn, W and Zn (water-soluble fraction) the steel industry pole. Principal component analysis was performed on the spatially-resolved chemical data to cluster the elements tracing the main PM 10 sources. The winter and summer size distribution of the water-soluble and insoluble elements was analyzed to verify their link with the emission sources. The proposed experimental approach promises to be very effective for the assessment of population exposure to different PM 10 sources. Unlabelled Image • Very-low volume PM 10 samplers worked in parallel for 15 months at 23 sampling sites in Terni; • PM 10 samples were analyzed for the water-soluble and insoluble fraction of 33 elements; • Spatial variability of the winter and summer element concentrations was mapped; • Spatial distribution of the analyzed elements successfully traced the main local PM 10 sources; • The proposed approach promises to be effective for the assessment of population exposure to PM 10 sources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]