Development of Appropriate Statistical Equations for Ambient Air Particulates and Pollutants at a Traffic Sampling Site

Abstract

This study monitored the atmospheric pollutants at the WuChi traffic (WT) sampling site from March 2004 to January 2005 near the Taiwan Strait in central Taiwan. The distributions of the particle concentrations between the total suspended particulates and the particulate matter around roads (fine particles and inhaled particles) at the WT sampling site were also determined. The variations in the concentrations of metallic elements (Fe, Mg, Cr, Cu, Zn, Mn, and Pb) and ions species (Cl−, NO3 −, SO4 2 −, NH4 +, Mg2+, Ca2+ and Na+) in those particles were also analyzed with reference to meteorological conditions. A nonparametric (Spearman) correlation analysis indicated that the meteorological conditions are closely correlated with the largest total suspended particulates at the WT sampling site. The results also indicated that the temperature importantly affected the particulate matter and was more closely correlated with particulate matter than other meteorological parameters such as wind speed, relative humidity, and atmospheric pressure. Finally, the regression equations between the pollutants and the meteorological parameters are shown.