Comparison of Two Receptor Model Techniques for the Size Fractionated Particulate Matter Source Apportionment

Gauri Girish Pandit,Kothai Parthasarathy,Sanjay Kumar Sahu

doi:10.4209/aaqr.2015.06.0416

Abstract

The goal of the study is to investigate elemental concentrations and source signatures of particulate matter at a selected receptor site in an urban area Navi Mumbai which is one of the hot spots of India with heavy industrialization. To achieve the objective, particulate matter samples were collected from 2008-2010 using Gent sampler with the automatic dichotomous size segregation unit. It was observed that the three year average concentrations of coarse ((PM_(10-2.5μm)) and fine (PM_(2.5μm)) fractions of PM were 89.92 (μg m^(-3)) and 42.25 (μg m^(-3)) respectively which were higher than the national standards prescribed by Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), India. Subsequent elemental analysis of air filters using INAA and EDXRF showed marginally higher levels of anthropogenic derived elements. Furthermore, in the present study potentially contributing sources of coarse and fine PM were identified using two different receptor model techniques Factor Analysis (FA) and Positive Matrix Factorization (PMF). Six possible contributing sources of coarse fraction and seven probable sources of fine PM were identified by both the techniques. Further, sources identified by the receptor techniques and the comparability between the two techniques were also evaluated.

Highlights

Particulate pollution has been an area of major scientific interest over the past decade considering its adverse effects on human health and welfare
It was observed that the three year average concentrations of coarse ((PM10–2.5μm) and fine (PM2.5μm) fractions of Particulate Matter (PM) were 89.92 and 42.25 respectively which were higher than the national standards prescribed by Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), India
Recent research and epidemiological studies strongly support that the elevated levels of fine particulate matter (PM2.5μm, PM of size ≤ 2.5 μm) concentrations were associated with more fatalities when compared to coarse particulate matter (PM10–2.5μm, PM of size 10–2.5 μm) (Dai et al, 2014)

Summary

Introduction

Particulate pollution has been an area of major scientific interest over the past decade considering its adverse effects on human health and welfare. There is no evidence to pinpoint any single feature or component of PM as the cause for the observed epidemiological effects, it is apparent that metals contribute to the toxic and carcinogenic effects associated with exposure to airborne PM and for this reason monitoring as well as assessment of PM has emerged as the object of several epidemiological studies (Kawata et al, 2007). From a mechanistic perspective, it is highly plausible that the chemical composition of particulate matter would better predict health effects than other characteristics, such as PM mass or size. This is consistent with the large number of laboratory studies that have demonstrated compositional variability in PM toxicity and epidemiologic studies that portray the regional heterogeneity in PM-related health effects

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Conclusion