Ambient suspended particulate matters and related chemical species study in central Taiwan, Taichung during 1998–2001

Ambient suspended particulate (PM2.5, PM2.5–10, TSP) was collected from June 1998 to February 2001 in Taichung, central Taiwan. In addition, the related water-soluble ionic species (Cl−, NO3−, SO42−, Na+, NH4+, K+, Mg2+, Ca2+) and metallic species (Fe, Zn, Pb, Ni) were also analyzed in this study. The results showed that the concentrations of particulate mass are higher in the traffic site (CCRT) than the other sampling sites in this study. Also, the fine particle (PM2.5) concentration is the dominant species of the total suspended particles in Taichung, central Taiwan. The dominant species for PM2.5 are sulfate and ammonium at all sampling sites during the period of 1998–2001. The results of diurnal variation at THUC sampling site are also discussed in this study. Overall, acidic and secondary aerosol (Cl−, NO3−, SO42− and NH4+) is a more serious air pollutant issue in southern and central Taiwan than at several sites around the world. Therefore, ambient suspended particulate monitoring in Taichung, central Taiwan will be continuing in our following study to provide more information for the government to formulate environmental strategy.