Identification of airborne particulate sources, of samples collected in Ticoman, Mexico, using PIXE and multivariate analysis

A set of samples of airborne particulate matter collected during February and March 1997 in Ticoman, a place located in the northern part of Mexico City's Metropolitan Area, were analysed by PIXE and the concentrations of ten main elements were determined. The fundamental information provided by PIXE was used to build up the data base needed to apply statistical tools such as absolute principal factor analysis. The VARIMAX rotated component matrix of the data was obtained, and the first three principal factors were assigned to soil, industry, and sulfates pollution sources. The quantitative source apportionments of the atmospheric trace element concentrations for the day time and the night time were determined by means of absolute principal factor scores. (C) 2002 Published by Elsevier Science B.V.