Abstract
A survey was conducted to effectively investigate the characteristics of airborne particulate pollutants PM10 and PM2.5 during the peak tourist season at Mount Wutai Buddhism scenic spot, Shanxi, China. Characteristics of the PM10 and PM2.5 in Wu Ye Temple (core incense burners), Manjusri Temple (a traffic hub), Yang Bai Lin Village (a residential district), and Nan Shan Temple (located in a primitive forest district), were determined. The results showed that the PM10 concentration was more than 1.01–1.14 times higher than the threshold (50 μg/m3) of World Health Organization Air Quality Guidelines (2005), and the PM2.5 concentration was 1.75–2.70 times higher than the above standard (25 μg/m3). Particle size analysis indicated that the distribution of fine particulate matter in Wu Ye Temple ranged from 0 to 3.30 μm. In other sampling points, the fine particulate was mainly distributed in the range of 0–5.90 μm. The particulates in Wu Ye Temple were mainly characterized by spherical, rod-like, and irregular soot aggregates (PM10) and spherical particles of dust (PM2.5). Manjusri Temple and Yang Bai Lin Village predominantly exhibited irregular soil mineral particulate matter (PM10), and amorphous ultrafine soot particulate matter (PM2.5).
Highlights
Particulate matter impacts the environment, climate, and human health and has become one of the most important pollutants affecting air quality
The initial objective of the present work was to investigate the concentrations of PM10 and PM2.5 in the four different areas, including Wu Ye Temple, Manjusri Temple, Yang Bai Lin Village, and Nan Shan Temple, at Mount Wutai scenic spot during the peak season
To the best of our knowledge, this study is the first to present the characteristics of PM10 and PM2.5 in a Buddhist scenic spot
Summary
Particulate matter impacts the environment, climate, and human health and has become one of the most important pollutants affecting air quality. Particulate matter, including PM10 with an aerodynamic equivalent diameter less than 10 μm and PM2.5 with an aerodynamic equivalent diameter less than 2.5 μm, has significant effect on human health in the last decades [1]. PM10 can be absorbed by the human body, thereby causing diseases following deposition in the respiratory tract and alveoli, and a number of studies have been conducted on this issue. Few studies have been conducted on PM10 distribution in Buddhist scenic spots, where a large number of incenses and candles are burned during the peak tourist season
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