Approaching PM(2.5) and PM(2.5-10) source apportionment by mass balance analysis, principal component analysis and particle size distribution

Sci Total Environ. 2006 Sep 15;368(2-3):663-74. doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2006.03.031. Epub 2006 May 24.

Abstract

A chemical characterization was carried out for PM(2.5) and PM(2.5-10) samples collected in a suburban area and the concentrations of 12 elements were determined in 8 size segregated fractions using a Berner Impactor. Two main objectives were proposed in this work: 1) to test for closure among chemical and gravimetric measurements of PM(2.5) and PM(2.5-10) and 2) evaluate the performance of Multilinear Regression Analysis (MLRA) and Mass Balance Analysis (MBA) in the determination of source contribution to Particulate Matter (PM) concentrations. The fraction unaccounted for by chemical analysis comprised on average 17% and 34% of gravimetric PM(2.5) and PM(2.5-10), respectively. The lack of closure in PM(2.5) and PM(2.5-10) mass (i.e., constituent concentrations not adding up to gravimetrically measured) could partly result from the presence of water associated with particles and errors in the estimation of unmeasured species. MLRA and MBA showed very similar results for the temporal variation of the source contributions. However, quantitatively important discrepancies could be observed, principally due to the lack of mass closure in PM(2.5) and PM(2.5-10). Both methods indicated that the major PM(2.5) aerosol mass contributors included secondary aerosol and vehicle exhaust. In the coarse fraction, marine and mineral aerosol contributions were predominant.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study

MeSH terms

  • Aerosols / analysis
  • Air Pollutants / analysis*
  • Carbon / analysis
  • Chlorides / analysis
  • Dust / analysis*
  • Environmental Monitoring / methods*
  • Environmental Monitoring / statistics & numerical data
  • Geological Phenomena
  • Geology
  • Metals / analysis
  • Nitrates / analysis
  • Particle Size
  • Portugal
  • Principal Component Analysis
  • Quaternary Ammonium Compounds / analysis
  • Sulfates / analysis

Substances

  • Aerosols
  • Air Pollutants
  • Chlorides
  • Dust
  • Metals
  • Nitrates
  • Quaternary Ammonium Compounds
  • Sulfates
  • Carbon