A factor analysis-multiple regression model for source apportionment of suspended particulate matter

Abstract

A factor analysis-multiple regression (FA-MR) model has been used for a source apportionment study in the Tokyo metropolitan area. By a varimax rotated factor analysis, five source types could be identified: refuse incineration, soil and automobile, secondary particles, sea salt and steel mill. Quantitative estimations using the FA-MR model corresponded to the calculated contributing concentrations determined by using a weighted least-squares CMB model. However, the source type of refuse incineration identified by the FA-MR model was similar to that of biomass burning, rather than that produced by an incineration plant. The estimated contributions of sea salt and steel mill by the FA-MR model contained those of other sources, which have the same temporal variation of contributing concentrations. This symptom was caused by a multicollinearity problem. Although this result shows the limitation of the multivariate receptor model, it gives useful information concerning source types and their distribution by comparing with the results of the CMB model. In the Tokyo metropolitan area, the contributions from soil (including road dust), automobile, secondary particles and refuse incineration (biomass burning) were larger than industrial contributions: fuel oil combustion and steel mill. However, since vanadium is highly correlated with SO 4 2− and other secondary particle related elements, a major portion of secondary particles is considered to be related to fuel oil combustion.