Chemical Properties of Indoor Individual Particles Collected at the Daily Behavior Spaces of a Factory Worker

The main purpose of the study was to clarify the properties of individual particles collected at each behavior space of a factory worker. The samplings of size-segregated ($PM_{2.1-1.1}$ and $PM_{4.7-3.3}$) indoor particles were conducted at three different behavior spaces of a factory worker who is engaged in an auto parts manufacturing plant (i.e., his home, his work place in factory, and his favorite restaurant). Elemental specification (i.e., relative elemental content and distribution in and/or on individual particles) was performed by a micro-PIXE system. Every element detected from the coarse particulate matters of home was classified into three groups, i.e., a group of high net-counts (Na, Al, and Si), a group of intermediate net-counts (Mg, S, Cl, K, and Ca), and a group of minor trace elements (P, Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, and Pb). The results of EF for $PM_{4.7-3.3}$ in home indicated that several heavy metals were generated from the sources within the house itself. An exceptional feature shown in the individual particles in workplace is that Cr, Mn, and Co were clearly detected in both fine and coarse particles. Cluster analysis suggested that the individual coarse particles ($PM_{4.7-3.3}$) collected at the indoor of factory were chemically heterogeneous and they modified with sea-salt, mineral, and artificially derived elements. The principal components in individual coarse particles collected at restaurant were sea-salt and mineral without mixing with harmful trace elements like chromium and manganese. Compared to the indoor fine particles of home and restaurant, many elements, especially, Cl, Na, Cr, Mn, Pb, and Zn showed overwhelmingly high net-counts in those of factory.