Concentrations of toxic heavy metals in ambient particulate matter in an industrial area of northeastern China

Abstract

This paper investigates concentrations of various heavy metals in ambient particulate matter (PM) and provide evidence for prevention from air pollution. The concentrations of heavy metal components in the PM were determined by inductively coupled plasma/Mass spectrometry (ICP/MS) from September 2000 to August 2002 in a northeast industrial city in China. Concentrations of Cd, Mn, Pb, Ni, Cr and As in the PM were 9.3, 461.9, 588.7, 69.5, 205.7 and 57.4 ng/m3 in the industrial area, and 5.7, 245.5, 305.0, 31.4, 58.8 and 32.5 ng/m3 in the main road, respectively. Concentrations of these heavy metals except Cd were significantly higher in the industrial area and main road than those in the suburban area (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01). The change curves of the six heavy metal concentrations show their concentrations increased in the winter and spring, but decreased in the summer and autumn. The results indicate that concentrations of the metals in the PM are relatively high in the industrial area and main road.