Environmental Science and Pollution Research

, Volume 25, Issue 9, pp 9101–9113 | Cite as

Seasonal variation and source apportionment of PM2.5-bound trace elements at a coastal area in southwestern Taiwan

  • Su-Lun Hwang
  • Miao-Ching Chi
  • Su-Er Guo
  • Yu-Ching Lin
  • Chiang-Ting Chou
  • Chieh-Mo Lin
Research Article
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Abstract

The aim of this study is to investigate the seasonal variations and source apportionment on atmospheric fine particulate matter (PM2.5) mass and associated trace element concentrations at a coastal area, in Chiayi County of southwestern Taiwan. Particle measurements were conducted in 2015. Twenty-three trace elements in PM2.5 were analyzed using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). Multiple approaches of the enrichment factor (EF) analysis and positive matrix fraction (PMF) model were used to identify potential sources of PM2.5-bound trace elements. Daily mean concentration of PM2.5 in cold season (25.41 μg m−3) was higher than that in hot season (13.10 μg m−3). The trace elements contributed 11.02 and 10.74% in total PM2.5 mass concentrations in cold season and hot season, respectively. The results of EF analysis confirmed that Sb, Mo, and Cd were the top three anthropogenic trace elements in the PM2.5; furthermore, carcinogenic elements (Cr, Ni, and As) and other trace elements (Na, K, V, Cu, Zn, Sr, Sn, Ba, and Pb) were attributable to anthropogenic emissions in both cold and hot seasons; however, highly enriched Li and Mn were observed only in cold season. The PMF model identified four main sources: iron and steel industry, soil and road dust, coal combustion, and traffic-related emission. Each of these sources has an annual mean contribution of 8.2, 27.5, 11.2, and 53.1%, respectively, to PM2.5. The relative dominance of each identified source varies with changing seasons. The highest contributions occurred in cold season for iron and steel industry (66.2%), in hot season for traffic-related emission (58.4%), soil and road dust (22.0%), and coal combustion (2.8%). These findings revealed that the PM2.5 mass concentration, PM2.5-bound trace element concentrations, and their contributions were various by seasons.

Keywords

Fine particulate matter Trace elements Enrichment factor Source apportionment Seasonal variation 
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Notes

Acknowledgments

The authors gratefully acknowledge the funding support received from the Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taiwan (CMRPF6F0051 and CMRPF6C0062).

Compliance with ethical standards

This study was approved by the Institutional Review Board (IRB) of Chang Gung Medical Foundation (201601350B1).

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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Copyright information

© Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature 2018

Authors and Affiliations

  • Su-Lun Hwang
    • 1
    • 2
    • 3
    • 4
  • Miao-Ching Chi
    • 2
    • 5
  • Su-Er Guo
    • 1
    • 2
  • Yu-Ching Lin
    • 3
    • 5
    • 6
  • Chiang-Ting Chou
    • 1
    • 2
  • Chieh-Mo Lin
    • 1
    • 3
    • 7
  1. 1.Department of NursingChang Gung University of Science and TechnologyPuzi CityTaiwan
  2. 2.Chronic Diseases and Health Promotion Research CenterChang Gung University of Science and TechnologyPuzi CityTaiwan
  3. 3.Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care MedicineChang Gung Memorial Hospital Chiayi BranchPuzi CityTaiwan
  4. 4.Department of NursingChang Gung University of Science and TechnologyPuzi CityRepublic of China
  5. 5.Department of Respiratory CareChang Gung University of Science and TechnologyPuzi CityTaiwan
  6. 6.Department of Respiratory CareChang Gung UniversityTaoyuanTaiwan
  7. 7.Graduate Institute of Clinical Medical Sciences, College of MedicineChang Gung UniversityTaoyuanTaiwan

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