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Identifying PM2.5-bound metal pollution sources in Southern Thailand using positive matrix factorization and principal component analysis

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Title: Identifying PM2.5-bound metal pollution sources in Southern Thailand using positive matrix factorization and principal component analysis
Authors: Siwatt Pongpiachan, Sarunpron Khruengsai, Teerapong Sripahco, Radshadaporn Janta, Rungruang Janta, Jompob Waewsak, Danai Tipmanee, Saran Poshyachinda, Patcharee Pripdeevech
Source: Atmospheric Environment: X, Vol 26, Iss , Pp 100337- (2025)
Publisher Information: Elsevier, 2025.
Publication Year: 2025
Collection: LCC:Environmental pollution
LCC:Meteorology. Climatology
Subject Terms: Air pollution, Health assessment, Heavy metals, PM2.5, Southern Thailand, Environmental pollution, TD172-193.5, Meteorology. Climatology, QC851-999
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.
Document Type: article
File Description: electronic resource
Language: English
ISSN: 2590-1621
Relation: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2590162125000279; https://doaj.org/toc/2590-1621
DOI: 10.1016/j.aeaoa.2025.100337
Access URL: https://doaj.org/article/5eb96ec2cb3b4ce9a1b6834601537ab8
Accession Number: edsdoj.5eb96ec2cb3b4ce9a1b6834601537ab8
Database: Directory of Open Access Journals
Description
Abstract: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.
ISSN:25901621
DOI:10.1016/j.aeaoa.2025.100337