Assessment of participate matter in the urban atmosphere: size distribution, metal composition and source characterization using principal component analysis

• Published in: Journal of environmental monitoring Vol. 14; no. 5; pp. 1400 - 1409
• Main Authors: Onat, B, Alver Sahin, U, Bayat, C
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: 01.05.2012
• Subjects: Turkey, Istanbul
• ISSN: 1464-0325
• DOI: 10.1039/c2em10792a

In this study, the size distribution of airborne particles and related heavy metals Co, Cd, Sn, Cu, Ni, Cr, Pb and V in two urban areas in Istanbul: Yenibosna and Goztepe, were examined. The different inhalable particles were collected by using a cascade impactor in eight size fractions (<0.4 mu m, 0.4-0.7 mu m, 1.1-2.1 mu m, 2.1-3.3 mu m, 3.3-4.7 mu m, 4.7-5.8 mu m, 5.8-9 mu m and >9 mu m) for six months at each station. Samples were collected on glass fiber filters and filters were extracted and analyzed using ICP-MS. Log-normal distributions showed that the particles collected at the Yenibosna site have a smaller size compared to the Goztepe samples and the size distribution of PM was represented the best by the tri-modal. The average total particle concentrations and standard deviations were obtained as 67.7 plus or minus 17.0 mu g m super(-3) and 82.1 plus or minus 21.2 mu g m super(-3), at the Yenibosna and Goeztepe sites, respectively. The higher metal rate in fine and medium coarse PM showed that the anthropogenic sources were the most significant pollutant source. Principal component analysis identified five components for PM namely traffic, road dust, coal and fuel oil combustion, and industrial.