Study on particulate and metallic elements variation at daytime and nighttime period in urban atmosphere

Abstract

Daily PM2.5, PM2.5–10 and TSP have been collected by Universal and PS‐1 sampler simultaneously at a site within Taichung between February and March 1999. The filters were analyzed by atomic absorption spectrophotometry for the elemental analysis of Ca, Fe, Mn, Pb, Cu, Zn and Cr. In general, the concentration of these metallic elements are higher in fine particles than in coarse particles. On average, PM10 accounted for 67% of the TSP at daytime, while at nighttime PM10 accounted for only 44% of the TSP. For PM2.5, PM2.5–10 and TSP concentrations, there were no significant differences between day and night period. The averaged concentrations of metallic elements in PM2.5 at daytime were all higher than that at nighttime. Ca, Fe and Zn have large and variable PM2.5 concentrations at both daytime and nighttime. For the daytime Zn and Pb account for the largest portion of the heavy metal elements. For the nighttime, Zn and Cr make the largest portion of the heavy metal elements. The concentrations of Mn were higher on fine particulates. The trace metals Cu and Cr in Taichung are probably due to particulates emitted by Taichung Fire Power Plants transported into the sampling area by the prevailing northwesterly wind.