Source analysis of trace metal pollution received at harbor, airport and farmland locations in central Taiwan

Abstract

Measured concentrations of five metallic elements (Cr, Cu, Zn, Cd and Pb) during August 2013 to July 2014 at three sites in central Taiwan were analyzed for identifying source regions and seasonal and site variations. Air mass backward trajectory analysis suggested that pollution sources were mainly from southern Taiwan and Philippine seashore areas during the spring and summer, from Korea, Japan and Hainan during the fall, and from northern China and Hong Kong during the winter. Biomass burning activities in south East Asia in spring were believed to have contributed a significant amount to the measured high elements concentrations. Two-way Analysis of variance was conducted to identify the significance of differences in measured elements concentrations between element species, season and sites. Significant differences between elements were identified at all the three sites with exceptions for Cr and Pb at the Airport site. Season differences were significant at two of the three sites; but site to site differences were found to be insignificant. The elements pollution levels in central Taiwan were in medium to high ranges in East Asia.