Input Characteristics of Dry Deposition of Atmospheric Particulates and Metals in Farmland in the Suburb of Nanjing

Abstract

The dry deposition of heavy metals in atmospheric particulates is one of the important sources of heavy metals in agricultural areas, but there are few observational studies on the atmospheric deposition of heavy metals in agricultural areas. In this study, the concentrations of atmospheric particulates with different particle sizes and ten kinds of metal elements in them were analyzed by sampling a typical rice-wheat rotation area in the suburb of Nanjing for one year, and the dry deposition fluxes were estimated using the big leaf model, so as to understand the input characteristics of particulates and heavy metals. The results showed that the particulate concentrations and dry deposition fluxes were high in winter and spring but low in summer and autumn. In winter and spring, coarse particulates (2.1-9.0 μm) and fine particulates (<2.1 μm) had dual effects on particulate pollution, whereas in summer and autumn, particulate pollution was mainly attributed to the fine particulates. The concentrations of metal elements were the lowest in giant particulates (>9.0 μm) and were similar in coarse particulates and fine particulates, whereas Pb, Mn, As, and Cd elements were relatively high in fine particulates. The average annual dry deposition fluxes[g·(m2·a)-1] of particulates was giant particulates (8.31)>coarse particulates (5.99)>fine particulates (0.629). The order of average annual dry deposition fluxes[mg·(m2·a)-1] of the 10 metals was Ca(2096.4)>Al(1710.4)>Zn(855.0)>Fe(256.1)>Pb(40.35)>Cu(31.93)>V(26.21)>Mn(9.10)>As(2.48)>Cd(0.28). The average annual dry deposition fluxes of the 10 metal elements in fine particulates, coarse particulates, and giant particulates were 179.03, 2124.97, and 2724.18 mg·(m2·a)-1, respectively. These results will provide a reference for a more comprehensive understanding of the impact of human activities on the quality and safety of agricultural products and soil ecological environment.