Source Apportionment of Atmospheric PM₁₀ in Makkah Saudi Arabia by Modelling Its Ion and Trace Element Contents with Positive Matrix Factorization and Generalised Additive Model

Abstract

In this paper, the emission sources of PM10 are characterised by analysing its trace elements (TE) and ions contents. PM10 samples were collected for a year (2019–2020) at five sites and analysed. PM10 speciated data were analysed using graphical visualization, correlation analysis, generalised additive model (GAM), and positive matrix factorization (PMF). Annual average PM10 concentrations (µg/m3) were 304.68 ± 155.56 at Aziziyah, 219.59 ± 87.29 at Misfalah, 173.90 ± 103.08 at Abdeyah, 168.81 ± 82.50 at Askan, and 157.60 ± 80.10 at Sanaiyah in Makkah, which exceeded WHO (15 µg/m3), USEPA (50 µg/m3), and the Saudi Arabia national (80 µg/m3) annual air quality standards. A GAM model was developed using PM10 as a response and ions and TEs as predictors. Among the predictors Mg, Ca, Cr, Al, and Pb were highly significant (p 2 were significant (p 4 and SO4 were significant (p 10 in Makkah: (1) Road traffic emissions (explained 51% variance); (2) Industrial emissions and mineral dust (explained 27.5% variance); (3) Restaurant and dwelling emissions (explained 13.6% variance); and (4) Fossil fuel combustion (explained 7.9% variance).

Keywords

• PM₁₀
• source apportionment
• ions
• trace elements
• PMF
• GAM