A study of metallic elements at suburban and industrial regions in central Taiwan during 2002–2003

Aerosol samples for total suspended particulate matter were collected by two PS-1 samplers from October 2002 to April 2003 at Tunghai University and Taichung Industrial Park in central Taiwan. The average concentrations of TSP at the industrial sampling site were higher than at the suburban sampling site during the sampling period. The samples collected were analyzed by a flame atomic absorption spectrophotometer for the elemental analysis. Statistical methods such as correlation coefficient and principal component analysis were also used to identify the possible pollutant source.