Factor Analysis of Air Quality Index

Abstract

The Air Quality Index (AQI) is a crucial indicator for measuring air pollution levels and reflecting the potential impact of air quality on public health. Factor analysis is a statistical method used to simplify and understand the relationships among multiple variables. In conducting factor analysis on AQI and its related pollutants (PM2.5, PM10, SO2, CO, NO2, O3), variations in the contributions of these pollutants to AQI were observed. This study selected Chinese urban air quality index tables (monthly) from January 2013 to April 2014, constructed an indicator system from various perspectives of air emissions, and utilized factor analysis to extract common factors and examine the scores of each emission. PM2.5 and PM10 are particulate matters typically originating from combustion and industrial emissions, significantly impacting AQI. SO2 and NO2 primarily stem from the combustion of fossil fuels, particularly in traffic and industrial activities, and exert a strong irritative effect on the respiratory system. CO mainly originates from vehicle exhaust emissions, while O3 is a secondary pollutant generated through photochemical reactions. Through factor analysis, the relative contributions of each pollutant to air quality levels can be determined, thereby identifying major pollution sources and aiding in the formulation of targeted pollution control strategies improve air quality and safeguard public health.