Particulates and metallic elements pollutants concentrations, dry depositions and sources study at a suburban area

Abstract

In this study, the concentrations and dry deposition of ambient air particulates are measured using a PS-1 sampler and a dry deposition plate at a suburban sampling site in central Taiwan from January 2019 to August 2019. The concentrations of metallic elements that are attached to the particulates and dry deposits are analyzed using inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopy (ICP-AES). The source analysis model was used to identify possible emission sources of the pollutants and the transmission distributions of ambient air metallic elements. During the sampling period, the TSP concentration at the Peiying suburban sampling site was highest on January 24th (in winter) and lowest on April 29th (in spring). Dry deposition was greatest on January 9th (in winter) and least on July 29th (in summer). In addition, the correlation coefficient between temperature and ambient air particulate concentration revealed a moderate to strong negative relationship (r2 = 0.60) the ambient air particulate concentrations declined throughout the study period. Moreover, high concentrations of crustal metallic elements Al, Ca were found in this study due to the particulates suspensions from the roads in the suburban area. The Taiwan II express highway runs about 500 m to the northeast of the sampling site, explaining why high concentrations of Cu were measured in this study. The concentrations of metallic elements Ca, Cd, Ni, Pb, and Zn were highest in winter and spring while those of metallic elements Al, Cu, Cr, and Mn were highest in summer. The mean metallic elemental concentrations followed the order: Ca > Al > Zn > Cu > Mn > Ni > Pb > Cr > Cd. The dry depositions of metallic elements Ca, Pb, Zn, Ni and Cd were greatest in winter and spring and those of metallic elements Al, Cu, Cr and Mn were highest in summer. The average dry depositions of the studied metallic elements followed the order: Ca > Al > Zn > Cu > Mn > Ni > Pb > Cr > Cd. The main pollution parcel was from the north side of Taiwan, pollution parcel that associated with the northeast monsoon, resulted in ambient air pollutants emitted on Taiwan island, influencing its air quality.