The concentrations of eighteen atmospheric carbonyls species were measured by the LpDNPH-Cartridge and the microcomputer air sampling device at Nan-Chie (northern part) and Hsiung-Kong (southern part) sites in Kaohsiung city, southern Taiwan. These samples were then analyzed using a high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Measurements showed that the highest concentrations of carbonyls were formaldehyde (18.33 and 18.74 mu g m(-3)) at the Nan-Chie and Hsiung-Kong site, followed by acetaldehyde (14.90 and 15.71 mu g m(-3)). The concentrations of total carbonyls were higher at Hsiung-Kong site (66.96 mu g m(-3)) than at Nan-Chic site (60.41 mu g m(-3)). The concentrations of total carbonyls at Nan-Chie site (or Hsiung-Kong site) were 74.06 mu g m(-3) (89.99 mu g m(-3)) in summer and 37.14 mu g m(-3) (46.50 mu g m(-3)) in winter, due to the fact that photochemical activities are stronger in summer than in winter. The results of principal component analysis (PCA)/absolute principal component scores (APCS) suggest that the primary pollution sources at Nan-Chie were vehicle exhausts (gasoline and diesel engines), stationary emissions (petrochemical and food industry) and restaurant emissions, and the primary pollution sources at Hsiung-Kong were vehicle exhausts (gasoline and diesel engines), stationary emissions (metal assembly and petrochemical industry) and restaurant emissions. (C) 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.