Investigation of size-segregated particulate matter and carbonaceous components in Phnom Penh, Cambodia

This study investigated the size-segregated carbonaceous components of particulate matter (PM), including ultrafine particles (UFP or PM_0.1), across three distinct urban settings in Phnom Penh, Cambodia: an educational site (University of Health Sciences, UHS), an institutional site (Ministry of Environment, MoE), and a residential area near a landfill. A cascade impactor-type sampler equipped with an inertial filter was used to collect size-segregated particles down to UFPs. Carbonaceous species, including organic carbon (OC) and elemental carbon (EC), were analyzed using a thermal/optical carbon analyzer to determine their composition and ratios. The results indicated no significant differences in mass concentration between weekdays and weekends at all sites; however, PM profiles varied across the location. The UHS site displayed higher EC levels in UFP, with concentrations suggesting significant local vehicular emissions, underscored by a lower OC/EC ratio (2.39 ± 1.13) compared to other sites. In contrast, the landfill site exhibited higher OC components in finer particles, suggesting emissions from organic sources such as waste burning and cooking activities, evidenced by higher OC/EC ratios across all particle sizes (e.g., OC/EC ratio in UFP at 3.78 ± 0.98). The MoE site presented a balanced profile with moderate levels of both OC and EC, influenced by its proximity to natural dispersion factors like the Tonle Sap River. Additionally, air mass backward trajectory analysis integrated with hotspot data indicated transboundary influences, particularly from agricultural burning in surrounding provinces, including Vietnam. Therefore, both local and transboundary emissions influenced the PM levels in Phnom Penh city.