Source apportionment analysis of airborne VOCs using positive matrix factorization in industrial and urban areas in Thailand

Airborne volatile organic compounds (VOCs) concentration data from monitoring stations in industrial and urban (Bangkok) area of Thailand were analyzed using Positive Matrix Factorization (PMF) to identify and elaborate on their source profiles. Analyzed data were obtained from those measured from January 2009 to December 2013 in the study area. The PMF was performed to estimate the contribution of specific source types to ambient concentrations. The most suitable number of factors for a dataset in this study was found to be eleven factors for compositions and characteristics of VOCs. Emission sources of VOCs in industrial area were classified into three to five groups based on their contribution. In industrial area, 42 to 57% of total VOC concentrations were contributed from mobile sources. Contribution to total VOCs concentration from industrial processes and household chemical usage were about 15 to 44% and 3 to 10%, respectively. Moreover, some species of VOCs particularly the ozone depleting substances such as Freon 11, Freon 114 and carbon tetrachloride were found as background concentration in ambient air. As for Bangkok, it was found that most of total VOC concentrations were contributed from mobile source emissions.