title: Source identification of particulate matter in a semi-urban area of Malaysia using multivariate techniques.
abstract: This study aims to determine the composition and sources of particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter of 10 μm or less (PM10) in a semi-urban area. PM10 samples were collected using a high volume sampler. Heavy metals (Fe, Zn, Pb, Mn, Cu, Cd and Ni) and cations (Na(+), K(+), Ca(2+) and Mg(2+)) were detected using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry, while anions (SO4 (2-), NO3 (-), Cl(-) and F(-)) were analysed using Ion Chromatography. Principle component analysis and multiple linear regressions were used to identify the source apportionment of PM10. Results showed the average concentration of PM10 was 29.5 ± 5.1 μg/m(3). The heavy metals found were dominated by Fe, followed by Zn, Pb, Cu, Mn, Cd and Ni. Na(+) was the dominant cation, followed by Ca(2+), K(+) and Mg(2+), whereas SO4 (2-) was the dominant anion, followed by NO3 (-), Cl(-) and F(-). The main sources of PM10 were the Earth's crust/road dust, followed by vehicle emissions, industrial emissions/road activity, and construction/biomass burning.
authors.affiliation: School of Environmental and Natural Resource Sciences, Faculty of Science and Technology, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, 43600, Bangi, Selangor, Malaysia.
authors.forename: N B A
authors.initials: NB
authors.lastname: Wahid
authors.forename: M T
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Latif
authors.forename: L S
authors.initials: LS
authors.lastname: Suan
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Dominick
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sahani
authors.forename: S A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Jaafar
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Mohd Tahir
mesh_terms: D000393:Air Pollutants / Q000032:analysis*; D000397:Air Pollution / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D008296:Malaysia; D019216:Metals, Heavy / Q000032:analysis; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D052638:Particulate Matter / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D000393:Air Pollutants; D019216:Metals, Heavy; D052638:Particulate Matter