Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Applying principal component, health risk assessment, source identification for metallic elements of ambient air total suspended particulates at Taiwan Scientific Park

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Environmental Geochemistry and Health Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

This study collected ambient air total suspended particle (TSP) concentrations and dry depositions at Taichung Science Park sampling site. The metallic elements concentrations and dry depositions were analyzed. The possible pollutant sources are discussed in this study. In addition, this study used the principal component analysis method to find metallic element sources and their transportation pathway and distributions at Taichung Science Park (T.S.P). The results indicated that the average highest TSP concentrations and dry deposition fluxes occurred in the autumn and winter seasons. The highest average metallic element concentration and dry deposition was Fe, while the lowest average metallic element concentration and dry deposition was Hg(p). The study results further indicated that the lowest metallic element concentrations and dry depositions all occurred in the summer season. The pollutant parcels originated from the northern Taiwan counties and sea surface in the autumn, winter and spring seasons. Factor 1 was responsible for the local industrial emission results and traffic road dust. The metallic elements Hg(p) yield a value greater than 0.7 in Factor 2 which revealed that ambient air particulate pollutants were generated from Taichung Thermal Power Plant (T.T.P.P.) emissions and were transported from the coastal area of mainland China cities. The mean seasonal concentration differences existed for ambient air particulates, and there were no mean seasonal concentrations differences for all metallic elements. In addition, there were no significant mean concentrations differences for all metallic elements and meteorological factors such as temperature, humidity and wind speed. Therefore, the ambient air metallic element emissions were stable and considered primary emissions sources. The health risk value for metallic element Cr was higher than that for the acceptable health risk value suggested by the EPA. Metallic element Cr revealed that it was no mean seasonal concentrations differences. Thus, metallic element Cr was considered came from local emission source at this T.S.P. sampling site.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Almeida, S. M., Lage, J., Fernández, B., Garcia, S., Reis, M. A., & Chaves, P. C. (2015). Chemical characterization of atmospheric particles and source apportionment in the vicinity of a steelmaking industry. Science of the Total Environment, 521–522, 411–420.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ayrault, S., Senhou, A., Moskura, M., & Gaudry, A. (2010). Atmospheric trace element concentrations in total suspended particles near Paris, France. Atmospheric Environment, 44(30), 3700–3707.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bakand, S., & Hayes, A. (2016). Toxicological considerations, toxicity assessment, and risk management of inhaled nanoparticles. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 17(6), 929.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Conselho Nacional do Meio Ambiente (CONAMA). (1990). Resolução CONAMA n° 03, de 22 de agosto de 1990. Dispõe sobre padrões de qualidade do ar, previstos no PRONAR. http://www.mma.gov.br/port/conama/res/res90/res0390.html.

  • Dewan, N., Majestic, B. J., Ketterer, M. E., Miller-Schulze, J. P., Shafer, M. M., Schauer, J. J., Solomon, P. A., Artamonova, M., Chen, B. B., Imashev, S. A., & Carmichael, G. R. (2015). Stable isotopes of lead and strontium as tracers of sources of airborne particulate matter in Kyrgyzstan. Atmospheric Environment, 120, 438–446.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Dörner, L., Schmutz, P., Kägi, R., Kovalenko, M. V., & Jeurgens, L. P. H. (2020). Electrophoretic deposition of nanoporous oxide coatings from concentrated CuO nanoparticle dispersions. Langmuir, 36, 8075–8085.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Drahota, P., Raus, K., Rychlíková, E., & Rohovec, J. (2018). Bioaccessibility of As, Cu, Pb, and Zn in mine waste, urban soil, and road dust in the historical mining village of Kaňk, Czech Republic. Environmental Geochemistry and Health, 40, 1495–1512.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Du, C., Hu, Y., Han, H., Sun, W., Hou, P., Liu, R., Wang, L., Yang, Y., Liu, R., Sun, L., & Yue, T. (2019). Magnetic separation of phosphate contaminants from starch wastewater using magnetic seeding. Science of The Total Environment, 695, 133723.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Fang, G. C., Chen, Y. C., Lo, C. T., Cho, M. H., Zhuang, Y. J., Tsai, K. H., Huang, C. Y., & Xiao, Y. F. (2018). Concentrations and analysis of health risks of ambient air metallic elements at Longjing site in central Taiwan. Environmental Geochemistry and Health, 40(1), 461–472.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Fang, G. C., Chang, S. C., Chen, Y. C., & Zhuang, Y. J. (2014a). Measuring metallic elements of total suspended particulates (TSPs), dry deposition flux, and dry deposition velocity for seasonal variation in central Taiwan. Atmospheric Research, 143, 107–117.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Fang, G. C., Lin, Y. H., & Zheng, Y. C. (2016). Ambient air particulates and particulates bound mercury Hg(p) concentrations, dry deposition study over a Traffic, Airport, Park (T.A.P.) areas during years of 2011–2012. Environmental Geochemistry and Health, 38(1), 183–194.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Feng, C., Huang, J. B., & Wang, M. (2019). The sustainability of China’s metal industries: Features, challenges and future focuses. Research Policy, 60, 215–224.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Francová, A., Chrastný, V., Šillerová, H., Kocourková, J., & Komárek, M. (2017). Suitability of selected bioindicators of atmospheric pollution in the industrialised region of Ostrava, Upper Silesia, Czech Republic. Environment Monitoring Assessment, 189, 478.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gnach, A., Lipinski, T., Bednarkiewicz, A., Rybka, J., & Capobianco, J. A. (2015). Upconverting nanoparticles: Assessing the toxicity. Chemical Society Reviews, 44(6), 1561–1584.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Goforth, M. R., & Christoforou, C. S. (2006). Particle size distribution and atmospheric metals measurements in a rural area in the South Eastern USA. Science of the Total Environment, 356(1–3), 217–227.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kang, J., Choi, M. S., & Lee, C. B. (2009). Atmospheric metal and phosphorus concentrations, inputs, and their biogeochemical significances in the Japan/East Sea. Science of the Total Environment., 407(7), 2270–2284.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kim, K., Lee, J., & Jang, M. (2002). Metals in airborne particulate matter from the first and second industrial complex area of Taejon City, Korea. Environmental Pollution, 118(1), 41–51.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kyllönen, K., Vestenius, M., Anttila, P., Makkonen, U., Aurela, M., Wängberg, I., Mastromonaco, M. N., & Hakola, H. (2020). Trends and source apportionment of atmospheric heavy metals at a subarctic site during 1996–2018. Atmospheric Environment, 236, 117644.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lau, O. W., & Luk, S. F. (2001). Leaves of Bauhinia blakeana as indicators of atmospheric pollution in Hong Kong. Atmospheric Environment., 35(18), 3113–3120.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ngole-Jeme, V. M., & Fantke, P. (2017). Ecological and human health risks associated with abandoned gold mine tailings contaminated soil. PLoS ONE, 12(2), e0172517. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0172517

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Onat, B., Alver Şahin, Ü., & Bayat, C. (2012). Assessment of particulate matter in the urban atmosphere: Size distribution, metal composition and source characterization using principal component analysis. Journal of Environmental Monitoring: JEM., 14, 1400–1409. https://doi.org/10.1039/c2em10792a

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Panzarini, E., Mariano, S., Carata, E., Mura, F., Rossi, M., & Dini, L. (2018). Intracellular transport of silver and gold nanoparticles and biological responses: An update. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 19(5), 1305.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Qing, X., Yutong, Z., & Shenggao, L. (2015). Assessment of heavy metal pollution and human health risk in urban soils of steel industrial city (Anshan), Liaoning, Northeast China. Ecotoxicology and Environment Safety, 120, 377–385.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Shah, M. H., & Shaheen, N. (2007). Statistical analysis of atmospheric trace metals and particulate fractions in Islamabad, Pakistan. Journal of Hazardous Materials, 147(3), 759–767.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Souza, I. C., Arrivabene, H. P., Craig, C. A., Midwood, A. J., Thornton, B., Matsumoto, S. T., Elliott, M., Wunderlin, D. A., Monferrán, M. V., & Fernandes, M. N. (2018). Interrogating pollution sources in a mangrove food web using multiple stable isotopes. Science of the Total Environment, 640, 501–511.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Souza, I. C., Mendes, V. A. S., Duarte, I. D., Rocha, L. D., Azevedo, V. C., Matsumoto, S. T., Elliott, M., Wunderlin, D. A., Monferrán, M. V., & Fernandes, M. N. (2019). Nanoparticle transport and sequestration: Intracellular titanium dioxide nanoparticles in a neotropical fish. Science of the Total Environment, 658, 798–808.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Tsai, P. J., Young, L. H., Hwang, B. F., Lin, M. Y., Chen, Y. C., & Hsu, H. T. (2020). Source and health risk apportionment for PM2.5 collected in Sha-Lu area, Taiwan. Atmospheric Pollution Research, 11(5), 851–858.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Vossler, T., Černikovský, L., Novák, J., & Williams, R. (2016). Source apportionment with uncertainty estimates of fine particulate matter in Ostrava, Czech Republic using Positive Matrix Factorization. Atmospheric Pollution Research, 7, 503–512.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wang, T., Rovira, J., Sierra, J., Chen, S. J., Mai, B. X., Schuhmacher, M., & Domingo, J. L. (2019). Characterization and risk assessment of total suspended particles (TSP) and fine particles (PM2.5) in a rural transformational e-waste recycling region of Southern China. Science of the Total Environment, 692, 432–440.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wang, X., Sato, T., Xing, B., Tamamura, S., & Tao, S. (2005). Source identification, size distribution and indicator screening of airborne trace metals in Kanazawa, Japan. Journal of Aerosol Science, 36(2), 197–210.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • World Health Organization (WHO). (2005). Health risk of particulate matter from long-range transboundary air pollution. World Health Organization Europe, Publication E88189, Denmark Joint WHO/Convention Task Force on the health aspects of air pollution. http://www.who.int/en/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/ambient-(outdoor)-air-quality-and-health.

  • World Health Organization (WHO). (2016). Ambient air pollution: A global assessment of exposure and burden of disease. World Health Organization, https://apps.who.int/iris/handle/10665/250141.

  • Wróbel, A., Rokita, E., & Maenhaut, W. (2000). Transport of traffic-related aerosols in urban areas. Science of the Total Environment, 257, 199–211.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yan, S., Subramanian, S. B., Tyagi, R. D., Surampalli, R. Y., & Zhang, T. C. (2010). Emerging contaminants of environmental concern: Source, transport, fate, and treatment. Practice Periodical of Hazard, Toxic, and Radioactive Waste Management, 14(1), 2–20.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zajusz-Zubek, E., Mainka, A., Korban, Z., & Pastuszka, J. S. (2015). Evaluation of highly mobile fraction of trace elements in PM10 collected in Upper Silesia (Poland): Preliminary results. Atmospheric Pollution Research, 6, 961–968.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zhang, K., Chai, F., Zheng, Z., Yang, Q., Li, J., Wang, J., & Zhang, Y. (2014). Characteristics of atmospheric particles and heavy metals in winter in Chang-Zhu-Tan city clusters, China. Journal of Environmental Sciences, 26(1), 147–153.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zhao, J., & Stenzel, M. H. (2018). Entry of nanoparticles into cells: The importance of nanoparticle properties. Polymer Chemistry, 9(3), 259–272.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

The authors gratefully acknowledge the National Science Council of the ROC (Taiwan) for financially supporting this work under project no MOST 109-2221-E-241-004 -.

Funding

The funding was provided by National Science Council of the ROC (Taiwan) (Grant Number MOST 109-2221-E-241-004 -).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering, National Chin-Yi University of Technology, Taichung City, Taiwan

    Chao-Lang Kao & Yi-Hsiu Chen

  2. Department of Safety, Health, and Environmental Engineering, Hungkuang University, No. 1018, Sec. 6, Taiwan Boulevard, Shalu District, Taichung City, 43302, Taiwan (R.O.C.)

    Guor-Cheng Fang & Yuan-Jie Zhuang

Authors
  1. Chao-Lang Kao
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Guor-Cheng Fang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Yi-Hsiu Chen
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Yuan-Jie Zhuang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Contributions

C-LK contributed to data organization, methodology, investigation, conceptualization, supervision, writing—original draft preparation—review and editing. G-CF helped in conceptualization, supervision, writing—review and editing. Y-HC and Y-JZ helped in the samples collecting and analysis during the sampling period.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Guor-Cheng Fang.

Ethics declarations

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper.

Additional information

Publisher's Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Kao, CL., Fang, GC., Chen, YH. et al. Applying principal component, health risk assessment, source identification for metallic elements of ambient air total suspended particulates at Taiwan Scientific Park. Environ Geochem Health 45, 809–824 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10653-022-01222-y

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10653-022-01222-y

Keywords

Search

Navigation