Measuring toxic metals in fine particulates from vehicle emissions.

Daytime and nighttime period sampling programs were carried out using a versatile air pollutant system to collect fine (PM_2.5) and coarse (PM_2.5-10) particulates simultaneously at a traffic intersection near Hung-Kuang University (Taichung) during October and November 2012. Concentrations of the toxic metals in the PM_2.5 and PM₁₀ particulates were analyzed by Inductively Coupled Plasma with Atomic Emission Spectroscopy. The results indicate that the average metallic element concentrations for Zn, Cu, Cr, Mn, Fe, Pb, and Cd in the PM_2.5 particles were 291, 168, 53, 37, 458, 34, and 8 ng m^-3 during the daytime, respectively. The corresponding average metallic element concentrations for Zn, Cu, Cr, Mn, Fe, Pb, and Cd in the PM_2.5 particles were 312, 165, 50, 36, 456, 49, and 7 ng m^-3 during the nighttime, respectively. For PM_2.5-10 particles, the respective concentrations were 75, 31, 9, 8, 163, 6, and 1.3 ng m_-3 during the daytime; they were respective 38, 38, 12, 12, 165, 9, and 1.5 ng m^-3 during the nighttime. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]