Assessment of Regional Source Contribiution of PM2.5 in the Gwangyang Bay Area

Fine particulate matter (PM-2.5) samples were collected over 15 months in the Yeosu and Gwangyang areas from March, 2019 to June 2020. Samples were analyzed for organic carbon, elemental carbon, water-soluble ionic compounds, and trace elements. Source apportionment model (Positive Matrix Factorization) was applied to the data understand monthly and seasonal contributing sources of PM-2.5. Nine source categories with reasonably stable profiles were identified in the Yeosu area such as secondary sulfate (38%), oil combustion (14%), mobile (14%), biomass burning (13%), roadway emission (10%), secondary nitrate (6%), industry activity (3%), sea salt (2%), and coal combustion (0.7%). In the Gwangyang area, the main and relatively different source contributions were secondary sulfate (37%), biomass burning (21%), mobile (13%), industry activity (13%), secondary nitrate (5%), oil combustion (3%), sea salt (3%), and roadway emission (0.7%). The companion model such as conditional probability function, revealed that the sources of secondary sulfate, nitrate, and biomass burning facilities can significantly affect the pollution levels at the specific locations.