Source Apportionment and Health Risk Assessment of Metal Elements in PM2.5 in Central Liaoning’s Urban Agglomeration

Qingyuan Guo,Xueyan Zhao,Chunmei Geng,Xinhua Wang,Zhipeng Bai,Baohui Yin,Liming Li,Yingying Liu,Wen Yang,Xiaoli Wang

doi:10.3390/atmos12060667

Qingyuan Guo, Xueyan Zhao + Show 8 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos12060667

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Abstract

To better understand the source and health risk of metal elements in PM2.5, a field study was conducted from May to December 2018 in the central region of the Liaoning province, China, including the cities of Shenyang, Anshan, Fushun, Benxi, Yingkou, Liaoyang, and Tieling. 24 metal elements (Na, K, V, Cr, Mn, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, As, Mo, Cd, Sn, Sb, Pb, Bi, Al, Sr, Mg, Ti, Ca, Fe, Ba, and Si) in PM2.5 were measured by ICP-MS and ICP-OES. They presented obvious seasonal variations, with the highest levels in winter and lowest in summer for all seven cities. The sum of 24 elements were ranged from to in these cities. The element mass concentration ratio was the highest in Yingkou in the spring (26.15%), and the lowest in Tieling in winter (3.63%). The highest values of elements in PM2.5 were mostly found in Anshan and Fushun among the studied cities. Positive matrix factorization (PMF) modelling revealed that coal combustion, industry, traffic emission, soil dust, biomass burning, and road dust were the main sources of measured elements in all cities except for Yingkou. In Yingkou, the primary sources were identified as coal combustion, metal smelting, traffic emission, soil dust, and sea salt. Health risk assessment suggested that Mn had non-carcinogenic risks for both adults and children. As for Cr, As, and Cd, there was carcinogenic risks for adults and children in most cities. This study provides a clearer understanding of the regional pollution status of industrial urban agglomeration.

Highlights

With the rapid development of China’s economy and the gradual increase of urban population density and the successful progress of industrialization, the use of coal and the number of motor vehicles has increased rapidly, and the continuous industrial emissions and motor vehicle exhaust has led to serious particulate pollution
Atmospheric particulates can cause harm to human health, and studies have found that air pollution ranks fourth among the health risk factors in China, after poor dietary habits, high blood pressure, and smoking [1]
Health risk assessment is a model recommended by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to evaluate the population exposure level and health risk of ambient particle-bound heavy metals [31]

Summary

Introduction

With the rapid development of China’s economy and the gradual increase of urban population density and the successful progress of industrialization, the use of coal and the number of motor vehicles has increased rapidly, and the continuous industrial emissions and motor vehicle exhaust has led to serious particulate pollution. Atmospheric particulates can cause harm to human health, and studies have found that air pollution ranks fourth among the health risk factors in China, after poor dietary habits, high blood pressure, and smoking [1]. Atmospheric fine particles (PM2.5), with many inorganic and organic constituents, are the primary pollutant in China [3] They have a large surface area and act as a carrier of crustal elements and trace elements, including heavy metals (e.g., V, Cr, Mn, Ni, Cu, Zn, As, Cd, and Pb) [4]. It is of great significance to study the characteristics of heavy metal components in PM2.5 in order to evaluate the sources and health risks of atmospheric particulates. The average value of the sites is used to represent the concentration in Shenyang and Anshan, respectively, in subsequent discussions

Chemical Analysis

PMF Model

Health Risk Assessment

Results and Discussion

20 Shenyang Anshan Fushun Benxi Yingkou Liaoyang Tieling 15 10

Conclusions