Metallic elements study on fine and coarse particulates during daytime and nighttime periods at a traffic sampling site

Fine (PM2.5) and coarse (PM2.5–10) particulates were collected simultaneously by using a versatile air pollutant system at a traffic sampling site during daytime and nighttime sampling periods during August 2003 to March 2004. A flame atomic absorption spectrophotometer coupled with hollow cathode lamps were used for chemical analysis. Enrichment factor and principal component analysis were used to compare chemical components and to find the possible emission sources at this traffic sampling site. The variation of metallic element concentrations on fine and coarse particulates during daytime and nighttime was also discussed in this study. Soil dust, traffic exhaust, marine salt and anthropogenic activities were the major pollutant sources at the traffic sampling site in central Taiwan.