Partial least square (PLS) path modeling is proposed as a tool to quantify the relative contribution of emission sources in secondary pollutants production in the atmosphere. Data used for PLS path modeling were gathered in seven non-consecutive days during three sampling campaigns from 5/28/2011 to 6/9/2011; 6/6-11/2012; and 10/13-25/2012. The sampling campaigns were conducted at the Obisbado Monitoring Station, which is part of the Environmental Integral Monitoring System in Monterrey Metropolitan Area, Mexico. Principal component analysis (PCA)/absolute principal component score was applied to identify and attribute four major sources of VOCs and carbonyls. Their relative contribution was evaluated as follows: fugitive emissions (47%), mobile sources (47%), use of solvents (4%), and natural sources (2%). Primary sources and secondary production were used to create a path model. For each source, manifest variables (MVs) were the pollutants classified by PCA, and secondary pollutants identified as formaldehyde, acetaldehyde, O3 and NO2 and temperature were the MVs for secondary production. This is an abstract of a paper presented at the 108th AWMA Annual Conference and Exhibition (Raleigh, NC 6/22-25/2015).
