Determination of selected heavy metals in airborne particles in industrial area: A baseline study

This study focuses on airborne heavy metal pollution in the industrial area. Eight points from Paka and Gebeng Industrial Area respectively were selected for this study within two monsoon seasons. The samples were analysed for heavy metals (Cd, As, Cu, Fe, Ni, Pb, and Zn) by using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). The results showed that the mean concentration value of As, Pb and Cd for Paka were 5.0 ng/L ± 1.0, 107.0 ng/L ± 88.2, and 10.0 ng/L ± 7.5, respectively and Gebeng were 3.5 ng/L ± 1.5, 69.3 ng/L ± 59.3 and 5.1 ng/L ± 3.8, respectively in the southwest monsoon - much higher than the target value by European Commission in Directive 2004/107/EC and Directive 2008/50/EC. It could be concluded that the industrial and transportation emission were the major source of heavy metals in the atmosphere along the Paka and Gebeng Industrial Area.