Chemical characters and sources identification of PM10 in Guangzhou area

PM10 samples were collected from seven sites in Guangzhou area and associated chemical species including seventeen elements(Na, Mg, Al, K, Ca, Ti, V, Mn, Fe, Ni, Cu, Zn, As, Se, Cd, Ba, and Pb), five water soluble ions(SO42-, NO10-, F-, Cl- and NH4+), and organic and elemental carbons were analyzed. This paper discusses chemical characters, the changes of PM10 and main components under different meteorological conditions, and also sources identification of PM10 by principal factor analysis. The results indicated that the average PM10 concentration was 125.8 μg/m3 and organic matter, sulfate and crustal dust were major components with proportions of 24%-32%, 17%-21% and 10%-12%, respectively in the seven sites. Principal factor analysis indicated that soil dust, oil burning, industry source (including metallurgy, chemistry and electric industry), coal burning, secondary source (by photochemical reaction) and biomass burning were the main sources of PM10, accounting for 20.7%, 17.8%, 16.3%, 14.3%, 10.4%, and 6.3%, respectively of the total variance in the data set.