Air Quality Management through Receptor Modelling

Abstract

Background: One of the major risk factors to human health is air pollution. It contains a complex mixture of gaseous and particulate pollutants which possesses dynamic properties due to the combination of anthropogenic activities and meteorological conditions. The precise characteristics of the ambient air pollutants in a given locale depend on the source origin, which in-turn is a function of economic, social and technological factors. Hence it is very essential to identify the source origins. Methods: Receptor models have been widely used in source identification and their contribution of Airborne Particulate Matter (APM). Chemical Mass Balance model (CMB) is one among them. This paper presents a critical brief reappraisal of the source apportionment of APM through CMB model. Findings: The review shows that CMB model have been frequently used and proved to be an important tool in source apportionment studies without any pre requisite of source and meteorological data sets. Applications: Source apportionment through CMB model is one among the way to control and manage the PM 10 and PM 2.5 emissions in an informed way.