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Metallic components of traffic-induced urban aerosol, their spatial variation, and source apportionment

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Abstract

This study proposes a practical method to estimate elemental composition and distribution in order to attribute source and quantify impacts of aerosol particles at an urban region in Kolkata, India. Twelve-hour total particulates were collected in winter (2005–2006) and analyzed by energy-dispersive X-ray fluorescence technique to determine multi-elemental composition, especially trace metals. The aerosols consist of various elements including K, Ca, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Se, and Pb which exhibit significant concentration at various sites (p < 0.05). The concentration of different metallic elements were found in the order of Zn  >  Pb  >  Ni  >  Cu  >  Cr  >  Co. Statistical multivariate analysis and correlation matrix analyses were performed for factor identification and consequent source apportionment. Contour profiles demonstrate spatial variation of elemental compositions indicating possible source contribution along with meteorological influences. Spatial differences were clearly most significant for Zn, Ni, Pb, and Cu reflecting the importance of anthropogenic inputs, primarily from automobile sources.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Environmental Science, University of Kalyani, Kalyani, 741235, West Bengal, India

    Sandeep Kar, Jyoti Prakash Maity, Alok Chandra Samal & Subhas Chandra Santra

  2. Department of Earth Science, National Cheng Kung University, 1 University Road, Tainan, 70101, Taiwan

    Sandeep Kar & Jyoti Prakash Maity

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  1. Sandeep Kar
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  2. Jyoti Prakash Maity
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Correspondence to Sandeep Kar.

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Kar, S., Maity, J.P., Samal, A.C. et al. Metallic components of traffic-induced urban aerosol, their spatial variation, and source apportionment. Environ Monit Assess 168, 561–574 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-009-1134-z

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