Title: Short-term variations in ambient particulates and their sources in Taichung, Taiwan

Authors: Guor-Cheng Fang, Yuh-Shen Wu, Winn-Jung Huang, Hsin-Chung Lu, Peter Pi-Cheng Fu, Yuh-Shuen Chen

Addresses: Air Toxic and Environmental Analysis Laboratory, Hungkuang University, Taiwan. ' Air Toxic and Environmental Analysis Laboratory, Hungkuang University, Taiwan. ' Air Toxic and Environmental Analysis Laboratory, Hungkuang University, Taiwan. ' Air Toxic and Environmental Analysis Laboratory, Hungkuang University, Taiwan. ' Division of Biochemical Toxicology, National Center for Toxicological Research, Jefferson AR 72079, USA. ' Department of Food Nutrition, Hungkuang University, Taiwan

Abstract: Ambient particulate measurements were carried out using TE-PUF sampling and a Universal Air Sampler between 8 March and 25 April 2001 at Taichung. Samples were collected every 6 hours beginning at 0100 LST (Local Standard Time) each day at two sites, one at a university campus and the other at a roadside. Chemical species (Cl-, NO3-, SO42-, Na+, NH4+, K+, Mg2+, Ca2+, Fe, Zn, Pb, Ni) were analysed simultaneously. The main sources at the campus sampling site were identified as soil dust re-suspension, sea salt spray, secondary aerosols and zinc-related industry, and those at the traffic sampling site as soil dust re-suspension, sea salt spray, secondary aerosol and fuel combustion. The diurnal variation of all the chemical species| concentrations were also measured. The meteorological conditions and the pollutant emission sources near the sampling sites are likely impact factors. These results also showed that the short-term diurnal variation of the concentrations of chemical species in the ambient suspended particulates is useful to identify the sources and modes of formation of the particulates.

Keywords: diurnal variation; fine particulates; coarse particulates; PCA; short-term variation; TSP; ambient particulates; Taiwan; air pollution; pollutant emission.

DOI: 10.1504/IJEP.2004.005115

International Journal of Environment and Pollution, 2004 Vol.21 No.4, pp.383 - 399

Published online: 03 Sep 2004 *

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