Abstract
Background: The potential impact of municipal solid waste incineration (MSWI), which is an anthropogenic source of aerosol emissions, is of great public health concern. This study investigated the characterization and cytotoxic effects of ambient ultrafine particles (PM<0.2), fine particles (PM0.2–2.5) and coarse particles (PM2.5–10) collected around a municipal solid waste incineration (MSWI) plant in the Pudong district of Shanghai. Methods: Mass concentrations of trace elements in particulate matter (PM) samples were determined using ICP-MS (Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry). The cytotoxicity of sampled atmospheric PM was evaluated by cell viability and reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels in A549 cells. Result: The mass percentage of PM0.2–2.5 accounted for 72.91% of the total mass of PM. Crustal metals (Mg, Al, and Ti) were abundant in the coarse particles, while the anthropogenic elements (V, Ni, Cu, Zn, Cd, and Pb) were dominant in the fine particles. The enrichment factors of Zn, Cd and Pb in the fine and ultrafine particles were extremely high (>100). The cytotoxicity of the size-resolved particles was in the order of coarse particles < fine particles < ultrafine particles. Conclusions: Fine particles dominated the MSWI ambient particles. Emissions from the MSWI could bring contamination of anthropogenic elements (Zn, Cd and Pb) into ambient environment. The PM around the MSWI plant displayed an additive toxic effect, and the ultrafine and fine particles possessed higher biological toxicity than the coarse particles.
Highlights
Atmospheric particulate matter (PM) is one of the main environmental pollutants in China.Emissions of PM frequently cause smog and haze in a large number of cities all over the whole country
The total mass concentrations of PM samples collected in the vicinity of a municipal solid waste incineration (MSWI) plant in Pudong district, Shanghai were 92.58 ± 47.70 μg/m3, in which ultrafine, fine and coarse particles were 4.10 ± 2.38, 67.51 ± 34.77, 20.98 ± 10.55 μg/m3, respectively
The fine mass concentration ratio was as high as 72.91%, indicating that the MSWI ambient PM was dominated by the fine particles
Summary
Atmospheric particulate matter (PM) is one of the main environmental pollutants in China.Emissions of PM frequently cause smog and haze in a large number of cities all over the whole country. Recent research has found that the ultrafine particles only account for a small proportion of PM, they contain many soluble metallic elements that can induce macrophage reactive oxygen species (ROS) activity [5]. The adverse effects of PM on human health are potentially associated with size, surface area and chemical composition, such as trace elements and black carbon [9]. The potential impact of municipal solid waste incineration (MSWI), which is an anthropogenic source of aerosol emissions, is of great public health concern. This study investigated the characterization and cytotoxic effects of ambient ultrafine particles (PM
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