Apportionment of PM2.5 Sources across Sites and Time Periods: An Application and Update for Detroit, Michigan

Abstract

Identifying sources of air pollutants is essential for informing actions to reduce emissions, exposures, and adverse health impacts. This study updates and extends apportionments of particulate matter (PM2.5) in Detroit, MI, USA, an area with extensive industrial, vehicular, and construction activity interspersed among vulnerable communities. We demonstrate an approach that uses positive matrix factorization models with combined spatially and temporally diverse datasets to assess source contributions, trend seasonal levels, and examine pandemic-related effects. The approach consolidates measurements from 2016 to 2021 collected at three sites. Most PM2.5 was due to mobile sources, secondary sulfate, and secondary nitrate; smaller contributions arose from soil/dust, ferrous and non-ferrous metals, and road salt sources. Several sources varied significantly by season and site. Pandemic-related changes were generally modest. Results of the consolidated models were more consistent with respect to trends and known sources, and the larger sample size should improve representativeness and stability. Compared to earlier apportionments, contributions of secondary sulfate and nitrate were lower, and mobile sources now represent the dominant PM2.5 contributor. We show the growing contribution of mobile sources, the need to update apportionments performed just 5–10 years ago, and that apportionments at a single site may not apply elsewhere in the same urban area, especially for local sources.