Characterization and Source Identification of Trace Metals in Airborne Particulates of Bangkok, Thailand

Abstract

Airborne particulate samples were collected in Bangkok, Thailand, using high-volume air samplers from March 2006 to March 2007. The sampling sites were the Huay-Khwang Community Housing (HCH) and the Ratburana Post Office (RPO), represented as residential and industrial areas, respectively. The samples collected were analyzed by inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectrometry (ICP-AES) for elemental analysis. The study reveals that total suspended particulate (TSP) concentrations are higher in the RPO (144.47 microg/m(3)) than at the HCH (110.93 microg/m(3)) site. The results also indicate that most of the metals were highest in winter and lowest in the rainy season. Na, Al, K, and Fe are the elements mostly found in the study. High-correlation coefficients of Al-K, K-Zn, and Al-Zn are observed at the HCH (R=-0.99, -0.97, and -0.97) and the RPO (R=-0.94, -0.92, and -0.83), respectively. Most of the measured metallic elements show weak correlation with meteorological parameters. Principal component analysis (PCA) indicates that soil, construction, vehicular emission, and biomass burning are the major pollutant sources of both sampling site. The HCH site is influenced by the domestic activities like vehicular emission, construction, and biomass burning. The sources of airborne metals found in the RPO come from both domestic and industrial activities.