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Volume 14
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10.3390/toxics14020111
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Article

Chemical Characteristics and Source Identification of PM2.5 in Industrial Complexes, Korea

by
Hyeok Jang
,
Shin-Young Park
,
Ji-Eun Moon
,
Young-Hyun Kim
,
Joong-Bo Kwon
,
Jae-Won Choi
and
Cheol-Min Lee
*
Department of Environmental and Chemical Engineering, Seokyeong University, 14, Seogyeong-ro,Seongbuk-ku, Seoul 12713, Republic of Korea
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Toxics 2026, 14(2), 111; https://doi.org/10.3390/toxics14020111
Submission received: 29 December 2025 / Revised: 16 January 2026 / Accepted: 22 January 2026 / Published: 23 January 2026
(This article belongs to the Section Air Pollution and Health)
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Abstract

The composition of air pollutants in industrial complexes differs from that of general urban areas, often containing more hazardous substances that pose significant health risks to both workers and residents nearby. In this study, PM2.5 and its 29 chemical components (eight ions, two carbon species, and 19 trace elements) were measured and analyzed at five monitoring sites adjacent to the Yeosu and Gwangyang industrial complexes from August 2020 to December 2024. Chemical characterization and source identification were conducted. The average PM2.5 concentration was 18.63 ± 9.71 μg/m3, with notably higher levels observed during winter and spring. A low correlation (R = 0.56) between elemental carbon (EC) and organic carbon (OC) suggests a dominance of secondary aerosols. The charge balance analysis of [NH4+] with [SO42−], [NO3−], and [Cl−] showed slopes below the 1:1 line, indicating that NH4+ is capable of neutralizing these anions. Positive matrix factorization (PMF) identified eight contributing sources—biomass burning (10.4%), sea salt (11.8%), suspended particles (7.1%), industrial sources (4.6%), Asian dust (5.2%), steel industry (21.8%), secondary nitrate (16.4%), and secondary sulfate (22.7%). These findings provide valuable insights for the development of targeted mitigation strategies and the establishment of effective emission control policies in industrial regions.
Keywords: particulate matter; atmospheric pollution; receptor model; emission source particulate matter; atmospheric pollution; receptor model; emission source
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MDPI and ACS Style

Jang, H.; Park, S.-Y.; Moon, J.-E.; Kim, Y.-H.; Kwon, J.-B.; Choi, J.-W.; Lee, C.-M. Chemical Characteristics and Source Identification of PM2.5 in Industrial Complexes, Korea. Toxics 2026, 14, 111. https://doi.org/10.3390/toxics14020111

AMA Style

Jang H, Park S-Y, Moon J-E, Kim Y-H, Kwon J-B, Choi J-W, Lee C-M. Chemical Characteristics and Source Identification of PM2.5 in Industrial Complexes, Korea. Toxics. 2026; 14(2):111. https://doi.org/10.3390/toxics14020111

Chicago/Turabian Style

Jang, Hyeok, Shin-Young Park, Ji-Eun Moon, Young-Hyun Kim, Joong-Bo Kwon, Jae-Won Choi, and Cheol-Min Lee. 2026. "Chemical Characteristics and Source Identification of PM2.5 in Industrial Complexes, Korea" Toxics 14, no. 2: 111. https://doi.org/10.3390/toxics14020111

APA Style

Jang, H., Park, S.-Y., Moon, J.-E., Kim, Y.-H., Kwon, J.-B., Choi, J.-W., & Lee, C.-M. (2026). Chemical Characteristics and Source Identification of PM2.5 in Industrial Complexes, Korea. Toxics, 14(2), 111. https://doi.org/10.3390/toxics14020111

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