Application of multivariate analysis for characterization of organic compounds from urban runoff

A one year study for determining the concentrations of aromatic and aliphatic hydrocarbons and fatty acids in urban runoff has been established in Madrid. Seasonal traffic and area variations were studied, so as to calculate enrichment factors after which apportionment techniques were used. Hierarchical cluster analysis was used to identify urban runoff in homogeneus clases. Squared euclidean distance is used as a measure to calculate the similarity between samples and the mean distance is employed as the fusion strategy to obtain the dendogram. Factor analysis was developed to determine sources of urban runoff pollutants. The Varimax rotation technique was chosen to resolve organic compound origins and obtain their profiles and contributions to the receptor site. The results show that pyrolytic, petrogenic and natural sources are the main components of hydrocarbons and fatty acids to urban runoff.