Source apportionment is a research area in environmental science that aims to identify and quantify the contributions of different sources to a specific environmental pollutant or contaminant. This can include sources such as industrial emissions, vehicle exhaust, agricultural activities, and natural sources. Techniques used in source apportionment include chemical analysis, modeling, and statistical methods to determine the relative impact of each source on a particular area or ecosystem. This information is important for developing effective pollution control strategies and policies to mitigate the impact of harmful pollutants on human health and the environment.