Study on pollution characteristics and source apportionment of atmospheric particulates in Zhejiang province

Ambient air quality monitoring activities were conducted in Ningbo and Wenzhou during the summer of 2009. Based on the monitoring results of particulates concentration (TSP, PM₁₀, PM_2.5 and PM_1.0), the pollution characteristics together with the composition of water-soluble ions and inorganic elements in atmospheric particulates were analyzed. The source of TSP in ambient air was apportioned by CMB Model. The results indicated that the proportion of fine particulates was quite high, and SO₄^2-, NH⁺, Ca²⁺ were the main water-soluble ions in atmospheric particulates. Soil dust was the principal source of particulates in the coastal cities of Zhejiang province. Its contribution to TSP at Beilun site, Yueqing site and Fenghua site was 55.49%, 42.52%, 40.70% respectively. There is obvious spatial diversity existing in TSP composition distribution at different monitoring sites.