Receptor modeling of the Antwerp aerosol

Receptor modeling, using factor analysis, was applied for the source identification and source apportionment of air particulate samples which were collected during two sampling campaigns in Antwerp, Belgium, and analyzed by particle-induced X-ray emission (PIXE) analysis. In a summer campaign (July 1986), 16 12-h samples of total aerosol were taken using conventional low volume filter equipment. In a winter campaign (February–March 1987) 120 24-h samples, consisting of 40 coarse, 40 fine and 40 total aerosol samples, were collected using a stacked filter unit and a total filter sampler. In both campaigns between three and five sources were discerned, most of which could be attributed to existing urban sources of air particulate matter. For each source, source profiles and absolute elemental contributions were calculated.