Receptor modelling of industrial air pollutants

The presence of particulate and gaseous pollutants at elevated concentrations in the atmospheric environment is detrimental to public health. The present study has investigated the impacts of a steelworks complex on the air quality in Port Talbot, South Wales, United Kingdom. Different offline and online air monitoring instruments were deployed to four sites around the perimeter of the steelworks (at one coastal site (Little Warren LW) and 3 inland sites placed along the length of the steelworks (Fire Station FS, Prince Street PS and Dyffryn School DS) in the study area for a four-week campaign (April 16 to May 16, 2012). Prior to Port Talbot campaign, a separate two week sampling (March 30 to April 12, 2012) was conducted at Elms Road Observatory Site (EROS) for a representation of an urban background. Gaseous and meteorological data logged during the period of sampling were also collected from the Automatic Urban and Rural Network (AURN) site at Port Talbot Margam (FS site). Hourly and daily data collected were prepared for receptor modelling using Positive Matrix Factorization (PMF) and with the use of Open Air and Lakes Environmental WRPLOT View software, windrose and polar plots were produced to show the directional emissions of particulate and gaseous pollutants. The online sampling instrument of Aerosol Time of Flight Mass Spectrometer (ATOFMS) as well as PMF solutions for Streaker and Partisol were able to identify different processing units of the steelworks responsible for pollutant emissions. The polar plots for most air pollutants revealed the steel industry as the major contributor to air pollution in the study area.