Source identification of PM10 aerosols using Factor Analysis and Enrichment Factor (case study area: City of Kermanshah)

The purpose of this research is to identify the sources of main and trace elements of PM10 aerosols in Kermanshah. In this research, PM10 samples were collected from 24 February to 22 September 2010 at the Air Quality Monitoring Station in Kermanshah. The concentrations of twenty elements consisting of K, Na, Ca, P, Cu, Ni, Pb, Cd, Se, Zn, Fe, Mg, B, Cr, Co, As, Mo, V have been detected by Indistinctively Coupled Plasma – Optical Emission Spectrometry (ICP-OES). Statistical methods such as Factor Analysis and Enrichment Factor have been used to identify natural and anthropogenic sources of elements in PM10 aerosols. Factor Analysis (FA) has identified four possible sources of main and trace elements for Kermanshah ambient PM10: soil –related emissions, vehicle-related emissions, vehicle exhaust, oil combustion and industry. The first factor has had high variance (36%), so soil – related emissions have been the main contributor to the main and trace elements in PM10. Enrichment Factor has revealed that crustal elements account for an average of 84% of the total concentration of all elements.

Keywords:

Aerosels , Factor Analysis , Enrichment Factor , Source identification , Kermanshah