Metallic components of traffic-induced urban aerosol, their spatial variation, and source apportionment

• Published in: Environmental monitoring and assessment Vol. 168; no. 1-4; pp. 561 - 574
• Main Authors: Kar, Sandeep, Maity, Jyoti Prakash, Samal, Alok Chandra, Santra, Subhas Chandra
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Dordrecht Dordrecht : Springer Netherlands 01-09-2010; Springer Netherlands; Springer; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Aerosols; Aerosols - analysis; Aerosols - chemistry; Air Pollutants - analysis; Air Pollutants - chemistry; Air pollution; Air Pollution - statistics & numerical data; Airborne particulates; Anthropogenic factors; Anthropogenic sources; Applied sciences; Apportionment; Atmosphere - chemistry; Atmospheric aerosols; Atmospheric particulates; Atmospheric Protection/Air Quality Control/Air Pollution; Automotive components; Chemical composition; Chromium; Cities; Concentration (composition); Copper; Crashworthiness; Discriminant analysis; Earth and Environmental Science; Ecology; Ecotoxicology; Environment; Environmental Management; Environmental Monitoring; Exact sciences and technology; Factor analysis; Heavy metals; Humidity; Lead (metal); Metal concentrations; Metals; Metals - analysis; Metals - chemistry; Monitoring/Environmental Analysis; Multivariate Analysis; Nickel; Outdoor air quality; Pollution; Quantitative analysis; Studies; Suburban areas; Toxicity; Trace elements; Trace Elements - analysis; Trace metals; Traffic; Urban areas; X-ray fluorescence; X-rays; Zinc; Asia; India; Factor analysis; Atmospheric particulates; Anthropogenic sources; Trace metals; Elementary analysis; Chemical analysis; Statistical analysis; Urban traffic; X ray fluorescence; Identification; Urban area; Multivariate analysis; Spatial variation; Heavy metal; Transport process; Correlation analysis; Aerosols; Pollution source inventory; Lixiviation; Air pollution; Anthropogenic factor
• ISSN: 0167-6369; 1573-2959
• DOI: 10.1007/s10661-009-1134-z

This study proposes a practical method to estimate elemental composition and distribution in order to attribute source and quantify impacts of aerosol particles at an urban region in Kolkata, India. Twelve-hour total particulates were collected in winter (2005-2006) and analyzed by energy-dispersive X-ray fluorescence technique to determine multi-elemental composition, especially trace metals. The aerosols consist of various elements including K, Ca, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Se, and Pb which exhibit significant concentration at various sites (p < 0.05). The concentration of different metallic elements were found in the order of Zn > Pb > Ni > Cu > Cr > Co. Statistical multivariate analysis and correlation matrix analyses were performed for factor identification and consequent source apportionment. Contour profiles demonstrate spatial variation of elemental compositions indicating possible source contribution along with meteorological influences. Spatial differences were clearly most significant for Zn, Ni, Pb, and Cu reflecting the importance of anthropogenic inputs, primarily from automobile sources.