ELEMENTAL CHARACTERIZATION OF PM2.5 AND TORAL SUSPENDED PARTICULATE (TSP) IN AUTO-MECHANIC WORSHOPS AROUND UWELU MOTOR SPARE PARTS MARKET, BENIN CITY.

Particulate matter (PM) are basically released into the environment through anthropogenic activities such as combustion processes which includes vehicular emissions, combustion of fossil fuel, metal smelting, which significantly pollutes the environment, thereby having negative effects on man and its environment. Particulate matter comprises of different particles size, ranging from ultrafine particles to total suspended particulates and various composition, the major components are the organic and the inorganic (metals) and these are the once that have cause for health concern. Metals have divers of adverse effects on the environment and on the human body In this study, PM2.5 and TSP were collected during the dry and wet season using APEX2IS Casella standard pump coupled with conical inhalable sampler (CIS) head at a flow rate 3.5L/min for a sampling period of 8 hours per day. The weight of the sample collected were determined gravimetrically and analyzed for heavy metal concentration in PM2.5 and TSP using Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy (AAS) method. The results obtained were subjected to Statistical analysis such as principal component analysis (PCA) for source identification, cluster analysis and correlation matrix.