<p>This study aims to employ a modified Tessier method for metal chemical fractionation in total suspended particulate (TSP) and inhalable particulate matter (PM₁₀) samples. The chemical fractionation of Cd, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Ti, and V in airborne particulate matter (APM) samples from a tropical urban area in the city of Aracaju, Sergipe, Northeastern Brazil, was performed, adapting a sequential extraction method encompassing six fractions characterized by a gradual increase in the solvent strength, as follows: (1) water-soluble fraction; (2) ion exchange fraction; (3) carbonate-bound fraction; (4) metal oxide-bound fraction; (5) organic metal complex or sulfide-bound fraction; and (6) residual fraction. Iron and Ti concentrations were the most abundant among organic metal complex and sulfides and silicate fractions for both TSP and PM₁₀. Cadmium concentrations, in general, were higher in the organic metal complex and sulfides, silicate, and oxide fractions, while Cu was most detected in the organic metal complex and sulfides, oxide, and silicate fractions. Nickel, Mn, and V were not determined in either of the samples. A multivariate data analysis indicated three groups, associating Cu and Cd to similar sources, i.e., vehicular traffic and fossil fuel burning. This is the first time this sequential method was applied to investigate metal mobility and metal distribution in APM, assessing beyond the bioavailability, solubility, and geochemical transport of trace metals.</p> Graphical Abstract <p><b>GA Text</b>: Airborne particulate matter sampled from a tropical urban area in Brazil evaluated employing a modified Tessier sequential extraction method consisting of six fractions.</p> <p></p>