Author(s)

J-H Lee, M-S Jang, J-M Lim, K-H Kim & Y. S. Chung

Abstract

In this study, using instrumental neutron activation analysis we undertook the measurements of about 30 metal elements in airborne PM 2.5 samples that were collected from a roadside sampling station at moderately polluted urban area of Taejon city located in the southwestern region of Korea. Based on our metal measurement data, we attempted to elucidate the metal distribution characteristics of fine ambient particles. We also examined the inter-metal relationships and the factors affecting source processes through the application of diverse statistical approaches. The distribution patterns of metals were clearly distinguished among metals with their concentrations ranging over four orders of magnitude. The means for Lu and Dy were found to be the lowest at values of 0.01 and 0.04 ng m-3, while those for K and Fe showed the highest value of 671 and 653 ng m-3, respectively. The results of correlation analysis showed that PM 2.5 concentrations can exhibit much more enhanced correlations with the metals of earth crustal components. The results of FA analysis indicate that there are no more than six factors with statistical significance, which appeared to play roles in regulating the metal concentration levels in the area. These six factors can cover as much as 82.6 % of total variance. Enrichment factor analysis supports explicit interpretation of results found by this factor analysis. 1 Introduction An analytical method developed for the quantitative determinations of trace metals in airborne particulate samples should be sensitive and precise, while being potent to identify the diversity of elements simultaneously. Instrumental

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