Cluster analysis of inorganic elements in particulate matter in the air environment of an equatorial urban coastal location

Abstract

Concentrations of nine inorganic elements (Na, Zn, Ca, Fe, Ni, Mn, Cu, Cd and Al) in particulate matter (PM10) in the air of an equatorial urban coastal location during 2009 were studied during summer and winter monsoon seasons using high-volume sampling techniques. Atomic absorption spectrophotometry was used to analyse the samples. The concentrations of most inorganic elements were higher during summer than winter, except for Cu and Zn. The main inorganic elements in PM10 are Na, Zn and Ca. High concentrations of Na and Ca are due to marine aerosols. Analysis of enrichment factors showed that inorganic elements are from non-crustal sources. Cluster analysis identified five clusters in the summer and six in the winter: (1) PM10–Ni, (2) Zn–Na, (3) Fe–Cu–Ca–Cd, (4) Mn and (5) Al for summer; and (1) PM10, (2) Zn, (3) Fe–Ni, (4) Cu–Ca–Na–Cd, (5) Mn and (6) Al for winter. Combining both correlation and cluster analysis, it was found that Fe–Cu–Cd was from industry/vehicle emissions, Zn was from resuspended soil, Mn was from metallurgical processes, Ni was from a nearby power plant and Al was from crustal sources. Inorganic element concentrations could be a good indicator of local sources of PM10.