PM10 Source Apportionment in Ahvaz,Iran, Using Positive Matrix Factorization |
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| Authors: | Mohammad Hossein Sowlat Kazem Naddafi Masud Yunesian Peter L Jackson Saeedeh Lotfi Abbas Shahsavani |
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| Institution: | 1. Department of Environmental Health Engineering, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran;2. Institute for Environmental Research (IER), Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran;3. Students' Scientific Research Center (SSRC), Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran;4. Environmental Science and Engineering, University of Northern British Columbia, Prince George, Canada;5. Department of Environment and Energy, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran |
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| Abstract: | Source apportionment of particulate matter <10 µm in diameter (PM10), having considerable impacts on human health and the environment, is of high priority in air quality management. The present study, therefore, aimed at identifying the potential sources of PM10 in an arid area of Ahvaz located in southwest of Iran. For this purpose, we collected 24‐h PM10 samples by a high volume air sampler. The samples were then analyzed for their elemental (Al, As, B, Ba, Be, Ca, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Hg, K, Mg, Mn, Na, Ni, Pb, Se, Si, Sn, Sr, Li, Ti, V, Zn, Mo, and Sb) and ionic (NH , Cl?, NO , and SO ) components using inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry and ion chromatography instruments, respectively. Eight factors were identified by positive matrix factorization: crustal dust (41.5%), road dust (5.5%), motor vehicles (11.5%), marine aerosol (8.0%), secondary aerosol (9.5%), metallurgical plants (6.0%), petrochemical industries and fossil fuel combustion (13.0%), and vegetative burning (5.0%). Result of this study suggested that the natural sources contribute most to PM10 particles in the area, followed closely by the anthropogenic sources. |
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| Keywords: | Elemental composition Ionic components PM10 Positive Matrix Factorization Source apportionment |
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