Trace metals are one of the most toxic constituents of atmospheric particulates. The baseline concentrations of
Pb, Cd, Zn and Cr in airborne particulates collected at a rural community in southern Nigeria have been
evaluated. The particulate samples from where the metals were characterized and quantified, were collected
between December 2007 and March 2008, using a Gravimetric technique a portable SKC 506673 High volume
Gravimetric sampler. The air particulate samples were collected from the kitchens, living rooms and outdoor
environment of five households in the community. The quantification of the trace metals was done using
Atomic Absorption spectrometry method, employing HNO based wet digestion. High baseline concentration
of SPM were obtained with an outdoor range of 240.74 555.55 µgm , living room range of 546.30 955.56 µgm
and kitchen range of 425.92 1444.00 µgm . However, relatively low concentrations of the trace metals were
measured in the samples with Zn and Cr being the most abundant. The outdoor and kitchen Zn concentration
ranged from < 0.0001 0.0603 µgm and 0.0185 0.1171 µgm respectively, while the Cr levels were < 0.0001
0.0252 µgm (outdoor) and < 0.0001 0.0204 µgm (kitchen). The correlation matrix analysis showed a strong
positive correlation between the kitchen, living room and outdoor sites, suggesting identical sources of the trace
metals. Principal component analysis (PCA) identified two fundamental sources of the metals, which was further
confirmed by the hierarchical cluster analysis.