Twenty-five atmospheric particulates were collected using a high volume aerosol sampler from Septermber to December, 1988 on a site located on the West coast of Korea and analysed for twelve elements (Na, Mg, Al, Mn, Fe, Cu, Co, Ni, Zn, Ag, Cd, and Pb) by AAS. The particles being mainly crustal minerals, large quantity of spherical fly ashes were also observed. In order to identify the origin of trace metals in atmospheric particulates, enrichment factor, interelemental correlation and factor analysis were performed. Based upon these analysis, the twelve elements can be classified into three groups; the elements dominantly present in soil particles (Al, Mn, Fe, Co, and Ni), those in sea salt aerosols (Na and Mg), and those in air pollution-derived particles (Cu, Cd, Pb, Ag and Zn).