PM2.5 Source apportionment and health effects in urban districts of Hanoi: inter-comparison of source apportionment results

Abstract

Abstract Comparison results obtained by different models with different physical assumptions and constraints for source apportionment is important for better understanding the sources of the pollutants. Source apportionment of PM2.5 measured at three sites located in inner urban districts of Hanoi was performed using two receptor models, UNMIX and principal component analysis with absolute principle component score (PCA/APCS). A total of 78 daily samples were collected consecutively during the dry and wet seasons in 2019 and 2020. Both UNMIX and PCA/APCS expressed comparable ability to reproduce measured PM2.5 concentrations. Additionally, both models distinguished 4 potential sources of PM2.5 including traffic-related emission, scrap metal recycling villages, crustal mixed with construction sources, coal combustion mixed with industry, and biomass burning. Both UNMIX and PCA/APCS confirmed that traffic-related emission was the most influential PM2.5 with a high percentage contribution (59% and 55.97%, respectively). All the HQ and Cr values for both children and adults of toxic elements apportioned by both UNMIX and PCA/APCS in every source were within the acceptable range.