Metallic elements study of fine and coarse particulates using a versatile air pollutant system at a traffic sampling site

Daytime and nighttime period sampling programs were carried out by a versatile air pollutant system (VAPS) to collect the fine (PM2.5) and coarse (PM2.5–10) particulates simultaneously at a traffic sampling site in front of Hungkuang University during August to October 2003. Chemical analyses of metallic elements were accomplished by a flame atomic absorption spectrophotometer coupled with hollow cathode lamps. Statistical methods, such as correlation coefficients and principal component analysis (PCA), were used to compare chemical components and to find the possible emission sources at this traffic sampling site. The variations of metallic element concentrations in fine and coarse particulates during daytime and nighttime were also discussed in this study.