Using Factor Analysis To Find Source Atmospheric Pollution By Moss Technique

Abstract

The aim of this investigation was to apply the moss biomonitoring technique using Barbula Indica moss and factor analysis to evaluate the possible sources of atmospheric pollution in the Thua Thien Hue province. The Barbula Indica moss samples were collected at sixteen sites in the areas of Thua Thien Hue province, the central Vietnam. The concentrations of thirty elements in the collected Barbula Indica moss samples were determined by neutron activation analyses at the reactor IBR-2 at the Joint Institute for Nuclear Research (JINR) in Dubna, Russian Federation. Factor analysis has been applied to the obtained concentrations to reveal the possible pollution sources. Rotated factor loadings suggested three factors, that could explained more than 84% of variability. Additionally, factor scores were calculated, that confirmed the presence of pollution sources in the corresponding sites.