Identifying PM2.5-bound metal pollution sources in Southern Thailand using positive matrix factorization and principal component analysis
This study presents the first integrated source apportionment and health risk assessment of PM2.5-bound metals in Southern Thailand using Positive Matrix Factorization (PMF) and Principal Component Analysis (PCA). PM2.5 samples were collected across three urban-industrial provinces, Nakhon Si Thamma...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2025-04-01
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| Series: | Atmospheric Environment: X |
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| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2590162125000279 |
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| author | Siwatt Pongpiachan Sarunpron Khruengsai Teerapong Sripahco Radshadaporn Janta Rungruang Janta Jompob Waewsak Danai Tipmanee Saran Poshyachinda Patcharee Pripdeevech |
| author_facet | Siwatt Pongpiachan Sarunpron Khruengsai Teerapong Sripahco Radshadaporn Janta Rungruang Janta Jompob Waewsak Danai Tipmanee Saran Poshyachinda Patcharee Pripdeevech |
| author_sort | Siwatt Pongpiachan |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | This study presents the first integrated source apportionment and health risk assessment of PM2.5-bound metals in Southern Thailand using Positive Matrix Factorization (PMF) and Principal Component Analysis (PCA). PM2.5 samples were collected across three urban-industrial provinces, Nakhon Si Thammarat (NST), Phuket (PKT), and Songkhla (SKA), during multiple months in 2023. PMF successfully resolved five major emission sources, including industrial processes, vehicular traffic, maritime fuel combustion, waste incineration, and fossil fuel combustion, explaining 58.4 % of the variance in the dataset. PCA offered complementary insight but lacked the resolution to isolate mixed-source tracers such as vanadium (V) and nickel (Ni), with lower total explained variance. Metal concentrations and source contributions exhibited distinct spatial and seasonal patterns, reflecting dynamic emission influences across the region. Phuket emerged as a hotspot for toxic metal exposure, with the highest hazard index (HI = 1.63) and cancer risk (4.79 × 10−4), exceeding international safety thresholds. In contrast, NST showed elevated Zn and Ag from traffic-related sources, while SKA was dominated by V and Ni from maritime emissions. Enrichment factor analysis further highlighted anthropogenic signatures, with exceptionally high values for Hg (Log EF = 6.09) in PKT and arsenic (As) (39 % of total metal mass) in SKA. Our findings provide new regional-scale evidence of metal-specific health risks and emission patterns in an understudied Southeast Asian context. This work supports the urgent need for strengthened regulatory policies targeting industrial and vehicular emissions, improved waste management, and expanded air quality monitoring to mitigate public health impacts from PM2.5-bound metals in Southern Thailand. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-5eb96ec2cb3b4ce9a1b6834601537ab8 |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2590-1621 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-04-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Atmospheric Environment: X |
| spelling | doaj-art-5eb96ec2cb3b4ce9a1b6834601537ab82025-08-20T02:07:38ZengElsevierAtmospheric Environment: X2590-16212025-04-012610033710.1016/j.aeaoa.2025.100337Identifying PM2.5-bound metal pollution sources in Southern Thailand using positive matrix factorization and principal component analysisSiwatt Pongpiachan0Sarunpron Khruengsai1Teerapong Sripahco2Radshadaporn Janta3Rungruang Janta4Jompob Waewsak5Danai Tipmanee6Saran Poshyachinda7Patcharee Pripdeevech8National Astronomical Research Institute of Thailand (Public Organization), Chiang Mai, Thailand; Graduate School of Social Development and Management Strategy National Institute of Development Administration (NIDA), Bangkok, ThailandNational Astronomical Research Institute of Thailand (Public Organization), Chiang Mai, Thailand; Corresponding author.National Astronomical Research Institute of Thailand (Public Organization), Chiang Mai, ThailandOffice of Research Administration, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand; Environmental Science Research Center, Faculty of Science, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, ThailandSchool of Languages and General Education, Walailak University, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Thailand; Center of Excellence in Sustainable Disaster Management, Walailak University, Nakhon Si Thammarat, ThailandResearch Center in Energy and Environment Division of Physics, Faculty of Science, Thaksin University (Phatthalung Campus), Phatthalung, ThailandFaculty of Technology and Environment, Prince of Songkla University, Phuket Campus, Phuket, ThailandNational Astronomical Research Institute of Thailand (Public Organization), Chiang Mai, ThailandSchool of Science, Mae Fah Luang University, Chiang Rai, Thailand; Center of Chemical Innovation for Sustainability (CIS), Mae Fah Luang University, Chiang Rai, Thailand; Corresponding author. School of Science, Mae Fah Luang University, Chiang Rai, Thailand.This study presents the first integrated source apportionment and health risk assessment of PM2.5-bound metals in Southern Thailand using Positive Matrix Factorization (PMF) and Principal Component Analysis (PCA). PM2.5 samples were collected across three urban-industrial provinces, Nakhon Si Thammarat (NST), Phuket (PKT), and Songkhla (SKA), during multiple months in 2023. PMF successfully resolved five major emission sources, including industrial processes, vehicular traffic, maritime fuel combustion, waste incineration, and fossil fuel combustion, explaining 58.4 % of the variance in the dataset. PCA offered complementary insight but lacked the resolution to isolate mixed-source tracers such as vanadium (V) and nickel (Ni), with lower total explained variance. Metal concentrations and source contributions exhibited distinct spatial and seasonal patterns, reflecting dynamic emission influences across the region. Phuket emerged as a hotspot for toxic metal exposure, with the highest hazard index (HI = 1.63) and cancer risk (4.79 × 10−4), exceeding international safety thresholds. In contrast, NST showed elevated Zn and Ag from traffic-related sources, while SKA was dominated by V and Ni from maritime emissions. Enrichment factor analysis further highlighted anthropogenic signatures, with exceptionally high values for Hg (Log EF = 6.09) in PKT and arsenic (As) (39 % of total metal mass) in SKA. Our findings provide new regional-scale evidence of metal-specific health risks and emission patterns in an understudied Southeast Asian context. This work supports the urgent need for strengthened regulatory policies targeting industrial and vehicular emissions, improved waste management, and expanded air quality monitoring to mitigate public health impacts from PM2.5-bound metals in Southern Thailand.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2590162125000279Air pollutionHealth assessmentHeavy metalsPM2.5Southern Thailand |
| spellingShingle | Siwatt Pongpiachan Sarunpron Khruengsai Teerapong Sripahco Radshadaporn Janta Rungruang Janta Jompob Waewsak Danai Tipmanee Saran Poshyachinda Patcharee Pripdeevech Identifying PM2.5-bound metal pollution sources in Southern Thailand using positive matrix factorization and principal component analysis Atmospheric Environment: X Air pollution Health assessment Heavy metals PM2.5 Southern Thailand |
| title | Identifying PM2.5-bound metal pollution sources in Southern Thailand using positive matrix factorization and principal component analysis |
| title_full | Identifying PM2.5-bound metal pollution sources in Southern Thailand using positive matrix factorization and principal component analysis |
| title_fullStr | Identifying PM2.5-bound metal pollution sources in Southern Thailand using positive matrix factorization and principal component analysis |
| title_full_unstemmed | Identifying PM2.5-bound metal pollution sources in Southern Thailand using positive matrix factorization and principal component analysis |
| title_short | Identifying PM2.5-bound metal pollution sources in Southern Thailand using positive matrix factorization and principal component analysis |
| title_sort | identifying pm2 5 bound metal pollution sources in southern thailand using positive matrix factorization and principal component analysis |
| topic | Air pollution Health assessment Heavy metals PM2.5 Southern Thailand |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2590162125000279 |
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