Changes in Health Risks and Pollution Sources of Atmospheric PM2.5-bound Metals in a Background Site in North China

Abstract

To explore the change features of PM2.5-bound metals in a background site of North China in the past ten years, 71 and 160 samples were collected from December 2011 to January 2013 (period Ⅰ) and from September 2019 to November 2021 (period Ⅱ) in Tuoji Island National Atmospheric Monitoring Station, respectively.The concentration of metals sampled was determined using ICP-MS, and the concentrations, sources, and health risks of heavy metals were compared. The results revealed that the average concentration of PM2.5 was (54.06±39.71) μg·m-3during period Ⅱ, which was 3.53 ng·m-3 lower than that during period Ⅰ. The concentrations of Zn, Mn, As, Pb, and V in stage Ⅱ decreased by 54.53, 172.63, 0.8, 79.06, and 3.81 ng·m-3, respectively, whereas the concentrations of Cr, Cu, Cd, and Ni increased by 2.01, 5.42, 3.03, and 3.55 ng·m-3, respectively. The PMF model results indicated that the biggest contributor to PM2.5-bound metal was industrial emissions (32.32%), followed by coal combustion (27.47%), vehicle emissions (23.70%), ship emissions (9.69%), and dust sources (6.83%) during period Ⅱ. The contribution ratio of dust sources and ship emissions decreased by 20.73% and 8.83%, respectively, whereas for coal combustion and industrial emissions it increased by 2.50% and 13.52%, respectively, when compared with that during period Ⅰ. The total carcinogenic risk induced by PM2.5-bound heavy metals of period Ⅱ increased, with the highest contributions by Cr and Cd. The total non-carcinogenic risk decreased, with Mn contributing the most. Therefore, in the process of air pollution control, the control of pollution sources of heavy metals such as Cr and Mn should be reinforced.