Characteristics and risk assessment of atmospheric PM<sub>2.5</sub> heavy metals pollution near coal gangue sites in Huaibei, China

Abstract

To study the level of atmospheric PM<sub>2.5</sub> and its heavy metal pollution near the coal gangue mountain, this study analyzed the content of seven heavy metals (Zn, Pb, Cu, Cd, Hg, Ni, Cr) and As through the PM<sub>2.5</sub> samples from the vicinity of a large-scale coal gangue filed of Tongting coal mine in Huaibei, and evaluated the level of pollution, sources, and health effects. The results showed that during the sampling period, the average concentration of PM<sub>2.5</sub> near the coal gangue field was 169.83 μg·m<sup>-3</sup>, which was 2.26 times that of the national air quality level Ⅱ daily standard. The coal gangue field may be an important source of air pollution, with the degree of heavy metal and arsenic pollution in the order of Cd, Pb, Zn, Hg (extremely heavy pollution) > As, Cu (medium pollution) > Ni, Cr (light pollution) and coal gangue dust and mining dust contributed more. This study provides data for atmospheric particulate matter and heavy metal and arsenic pollution levels near coal gangue fields and provides a theoretical basis for air pollution prevention and control near coal gangue hills.