Elemental Enrichment And Its Attribution To Natural And Anthropogenic Sources In Fine And Coarse Aerosols Of Kuala Lumpur

Abstract

A total of 139 collocated samples of fine and coarse atmospheric aerosols collected from July 1988 to December 1990 in Kuala Lumpur were analysed for their elemental composition,and for their assoctated concentrations in the sampled air. Nine elements i.e As, Br, Co, Ni, P, Pb, S, Sb and Zn, were found to be strongly attributed to anthropogenic sources. Their elemental enrichment factors in fine and coarse size fraction were more than 17 times higher than those found in the crustal rock. Whilst, Ca, Fe, K, Mn, and V could be attributed to both anthropogenic and soil related aerosols. Both Al and Cl were exclusively originated from soil and marine in all size fractions respectively. Key Words: Air pollution, aerosol, trace elements, enrichment factors