Metals In Atmospheric Particles Research Articles

Size distribution of water-soluble metals in atmospheric particles in Xi'an, China: Seasonal variations, bioavailability, and health risk assessment

The water solubility of potentially toxic elements is associated with biological effects and thus should be a major toxicity evaluation criterion for elements. The size distribution and potential health risk of particle-bound water-soluble metals (Cr, Ni, Zn, Fe, Pb, Ba, Mn, Cu, and Ti) in nine particle sizes (<0.43, 0.43–0.65, 0.65–1.1, 1.1–2.1, 2.1–3.3, 3.3–4.7, 4.7–5.8, 5.8–9, and >9 μm) were investigated from December 2018 to November 2019 in Xi'an, China. Water-soluble metals exhibited a typical bimodal distribution, with a dominant peak in the coarse mode (4.7–5.8 μm) and a minor peak in the fine mode (0.43–0.65 μm). Most measured water-soluble metals (Ni, Fe, Pb, Ba, Mn, Cu, and Ti) exhibited a peak-shifting tendency from 0.43 to 0.65 to 0.65–1.1 μm (summer to winter) because of the high relative humidity and high concentrations of gaseous precursor. The bioavailability index (BI) indicated that Zn (44.3%), Mn (37.3%), Ba (34.3%), and Pb (33.6%) had higher bioavailable fractions. Cu (29.4%) and Fe (10.4%) had the highest BI at <0.43 μm in autumn. Water-soluble Cr and Pb exhibited obvious noncarcinogenic health risks to both children and adults. Water-soluble Cr also had a concerning incremental lifetime carcinogenic health risk of 8.68 × 10−6 caused primarily by the elements in fine particles (<0.65 μm). Furthermore, the relative contributions of elements in fine particles had a larger effect on bioavailability and health risks than those in coarse particles did, indicating that closer attention should be paid to fine-particle-size elements in Xi'an.

Chemical content and source apportionment of 36 heavy metal analysis and health risk assessment in aerosol of Beijing.

The concentration levels of 36 airborne heavy metals and atmospheric radioactivity in total suspended particulate (TSP) samples were measured to investigate the chemical characteristics, potential sources of aerosols, and health risk in Beijing, China, from September 2016 to September 2017. The TSP concentrations varied from 6.93 to 469.18μg/m3, with a median of 133.97μg/m3. The order for the mean concentrations of heavy metals, known as hazardous air pollutants (HAPs), was as follows: Mn > Pb > As > Cr > Ni > Se > Cd > Co > Sb > Hg > Be; Non-Designated HAPs Metals: Ca > Fe > Mg > Al > K > Na > Zn > P > Ba > Ti > Cu > Sr > B > Sn > I > V > Rb > Ce > Mo > Cs > Th > Ag > U > Pt. The median concentration of As was higher than China air quality standard (6ng/m3). The gross α and β concentration levels in aerosols were (1.84 ± 1.59) mBg/m3 and (1.15 ± 0.85) mBg/m3, respectively. The enrichment factor values of Cu, Ba, B, Ce, Tl, Cs, Pb, As, Cd, Sb, Hg, Fe, Zn, Sn, I, Mo, and Ag were higher than 10, which indicated enriched results from anthropogenic sources. Pb, As, and Cd are considered to originate from multiple sources; fireworks released Ba during China spring festival; Fe, Ce, and Cs may come from stable emissions such as industrial gases. The health risks from anthropogenic metals via inhalation, ingestion, and dermal pathway were estimated on the basis of health quotient as well as the results indicated that children faced the higher risk than adults during the research period. For adults, the health risk posed by heavy metals in atmospheric particles was below the acceptable level.

Seasonal Levels, Sources, and Health Risks of Heavy Metals in Atmospheric PM2.5 from Four Functional Areas of Nanjing City, Eastern China

Aerosol pollution is a serious environmental issue, especially in China where there has been rapid urbanization. To identify the intra-annual and regional distributions of health risks and potential sources of heavy metals in atmospheric particles with an aerodynamic diameter less than or equal to 2.5 μm (PM2.5), this work collected monthly PM2.5 samples from urban, industrial, suburban, and rural areas in Nanjing city during 2016 and analyzed the heavy metal compositions (Cu, Pb, Cd, Co, V, Sr, Mn, Ti, and Sb). Enrichment factors (EFs) and principal component analysis (PCA) were applied to investigate the sources. The atmospheric PM2.5 pollution level was highest in the industrial area, followed by the urban and suburban areas, and was the lowest in the rural area. Seasonally, the concentrations of PM2.5 and associated heavy metals in spring and winter were higher than those in summer and autumn. Besides natural sources, heavy metal pollution in PM2.5 might come from metallurgical dust in the industrial area, while it mainly comes from automobile exhaust in urban and suburban areas. Health risk assessments revealed that noncancerous hazards of heavy metals in PM2.5 were low, while the lifetime cancer risks obviously exceeded the threshold. The airborne metal pollution in various functional areas of the city impacted human health differently.

Size distribution and source of heavy metals in particulate matter on the lead and zinc smelting affected area

In order to understand the size distribution and the main kind of heavy metals in particulate matter on the lead and zinc smelting affected area, particulate matter (PM) and the source samples were collected in Zhuzhou, Hunan Province from December 2011 to January 2012 and the results were discussed and interpreted. Atmospheric particles were collected with different sizes by a cascade impactor. The concentrations of heavy metals in atmospheric particles of different sizes, collected from the air and from factories, were measured using an inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). The results indicated that the average concentration of PM, chromium (Cr), arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd) and lead (Pb) in PM was 177.3 ± 33.2 μg/m3, 37.3 ± 8.8 ng/m3, 17.3 ± 8.1 ng/m3, 4.8 ± 3.1 ng/m3 and 141.6 ± 49.1 ng/m3, respectively. The size distribution of PM displayed a bimodal distribution; the maximum PM size distribution was at 1.1–2.1 μm, followed by 9–10 μm. The size distribution of As, Cd and Pb in PM was similar to the distribution of the PM mass, with peaks observed at the range of 1.1–2.1 μm and 9–10 μm ranges while for Cr, only a single-mode at 4.7–5.8 μm was observed. PM (64.7%), As (72.5%), Cd (72.2%) and Pb (75.8%) were associated with the fine mode below 2.1 μm, respectively, while Cr (46.6%) was associated with the coarse mode. The size distribution characteristics, enrichment factor, correlation coefficient values, source information and the analysis of source samples showed that As, Cd and Pb in PM were the typical heavy metal in lead and zinc smelting affected areas, which originated mainly from lead and zinc smelting sources.

Particle Size Distribution and Human Health Risk Assessment of Heavy Metals in Atmospheric Particles from Beijing and Xinxiang During Summer

Under a condition of good air quality (AQI:55-90, PM10:37-97 μg·m-3, PM2.5:17-76 μg·m-3), six groups of 54 samples were collected using an Andersen cascade impactor from both the indoor and outdoor stations in Beijing and Xinxiang from June to August in 2016. The samples were digested by microwave digestion, and nine heavy metal elements (Pb, Cr, Ni, Cu, Zn, As, Cd, Mn, and Co) in the atmospheric particles were determined with an inductively coupled plasma source mass spectrometer (ICP-MS). The results showed that the enrichment index (0-3) of most elements were low in both cities except for Cd[15.0 (Beijing) and 8.47 (Xinxiang)]. Cr, Co, Cu, and Mn in the atmospheric particles from Beijing park, Cd, Pb, and Mn in the atmospheric particles from the Beijing office, Cr, Co, Ni, and As in the atmospheric particles from Xinxiang park, and all nine heavy metal elements in the atmospheric particles from roads in both cities were found to be more concentrated in the coarse fractions; however, Pb, Zn, Cd, Ni, and As in the atmospheric particles from Beijing park, Co, Zn, Ni, Cr, As, and Cu in the atmospheric particles from the Beijing office, Pb, Zn, Cd, Cu, and Mn in the atmospheric particles from Xinxiang park, and all nine metal elements in the atmospheric particles from the Beijing office showed the opposite pattern. The result of a human health risk assessment indicated that the carcinogenic risk of the five carcinogenic elements were all less than 10-4, but a lower potential cancer risk would also occur under long term exposure. For the four non-carcinogenic elements (Pb, Zn, Mn, and Cu), the non-carcinogenic health risk values of Pb, Zn, Mn, and Cu in the atmospheric particulates in Beijing were all far less than 1, which means the corresponding non-carcinogenic risk was negligible; and, except for Mn, there was no obvious non-carcinogenic risk from Pb, Zn, and Cu in the atmospheric particles of Xinxiang.

Heavy Metal Pollution in Settled Dust Associated with Different Urban Functional Areas in a Heavily Air-Polluted City in North China.

Understanding variations of heavy metals in atmospheric particles between different functional areas is significant for pollution control and urban planning in cities. To reveal pollution and spatial distribution of heavy metals in atmospheric particles from different urban functional areas in Shijiazhuang in North China, 43 settled dust samples were collected over the main urban area and heavy metal concentrations were determined in their <63 μm fractions using an ICP-OES. The results suggest that Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, and V in the dust are not or slightly enriched and their concentrations vary slightly between different sites, implying their natural origins; whereas Cu, Zn, Cd, and Pb are often notably enriched and their concentrations vary significantly between different functional areas, indicating their anthropogenic sources. Integrated pollution indexes (IPIs) of the ten heavy metals are 2.7–13.6 (5.7 ± 2.2), suggesting high or very high pollution levels of most dust. Relatively lower IPIs occur mainly in the administration-education area, the commercial area, and other unclassified sites; while peaks occur mainly in the North Railway Station, the northeastern industrial area, and some sites near heavily trafficked areas, implying the significant influence of intensive industrial (including coal combustion) and traffic activities on atmospheric heavy metal accumulation. These results suggest a clear need of mitigating atmospheric heavy metal pollution via controlling emissions of toxic metals (especially Cd and Pb) from industrial and traffic sources in the city.

PM2.5 Pollution Level of Heavy Metals in Atmospheric Particles in Taiyuan

PM2.5 particulate matters were collected in Taiyuan from November 2012 to October 2013. The total concentrations of seven kinds of typical heavy metal element (Fe, Pb, Mn, Cu, Ni, Cr, Cd) in particles were quantified by acid digestion method, then determined by flame atomic absorption spectrophotometer. The results showed that the concentration of PM2.5 in Taiyuan was six times higher than the Ambient Air Quality Standard (GB 3095-2012) II, and the atmospheric particles in Taiyuan are high in Fe, Pb, Cu, Mn, followed by Ni, Cr, Cd. The concentrations of Fe, Cd, Cu, Mn, Ni, Cr in industrial area were high, while the contents of Pb was high in commercial area, all of them were low in educational and residential area.

Source Apportionment of Heavy Metals (Pb, Cd, As, Hg) in PM&lt;sub&gt;2.5&lt;/sub&gt; and PM&lt;sub&gt;10&lt;/sub&gt; in a City in China

In this paper, the contamination of heavy metals in atmospheric particles of PM2.5 and PM10 in a city in China was analyzed, meanwhile the sources of different heavy metals (Cd, Hg, As and Pb) in atmospheric particles (PM2.5 and PM10) were confirmed by source apportionment in a city in China area through principal component analytical method. The research results showed that the heavy metals in PM2.5 and PM10 contaminated the atmosphere environment dramatically. The heavy metal Cd, Hg and Pb came mainly from incomplete combustion of petrol, while the heavy metal of As was the product of electronic metallurgy, which provides the theoretical basis for controlling of atmospheric heavy metal contamination. This method can be also applied to source apportionment of other heavy metals in atmosphere environment.

Characterisation of trace metals in atmospheric particles in the vicinity of iron and steelmaking industries in Australia

The aims of this work are to provide a detailed physicochemical assessment of atmospheric particles collected in the vicinity of three iron and steelmaking plants and to indicate the importance of chemical characterisation of the particles, in addition to the assessment of the particle size and concentrations. In this study, atmospheric sampling sites were selected downstream of three iron and steel processing operations in Australia and one background site in an urban area with little industrial activity. The collected particles were analysed for a range of particle size mass concentrations and detailed chemical analysis of the trace metals Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu and Zn in the corresponding particle size ranges was carried out. The PM2.5 fractions in the PM10 particles at all sampling sites ranged from 35 to 62% indicating fine particles made a significant contribution to this size fraction at these sampling sites. Similarly, PM1 to the total PM10 at all sites varied from 20 to 46% and contributed significantly to the PM10 mass loading. When compared to the background sampling site, all detected metals in the particles collected near the iron and steelmaking operations had 3.4–14 times higher concentrations of PM10, PM2.5 and PM1. Iron (Fe) was found to be the dominant metal in the particles collected in vicinity of the iron and steel processing industries contributing up to 12% of the total particle mass loading. This study suggests that the metal composition of PM10, PM2.5 and PM1 varies significantly between sites and the associated metal exposure value is considerably higher in the vicinity of iron and steel processing industries than in the urban area for the same particle concentration level.

Water and acid soluble trace metals in atmospheric particles

Continental aerosols were collected above a deciduous forest in eastern Tennessee and subjected to selective extractions to determine the water soluble and acid leachable concentrations of Cd, Mn, Pb, and Zn. The combined contribution of these metals to the total aerosol mass is 0.5%, ∼70% of which is attributable to Pb alone. A substantial fraction ( ∼ 50% or greater) of the acid leachable metals are soluble in distilled water. This water soluble fraction generally increased with decreasing particle size and with increasing frequency of atmospheric water vapor saturation during a sampling period. The pattern of relative solubilities (Zn &gt; Mn ≃ Cd &gt; Pb) is similar to the general order of the thermodynamic solubilities of the most probable salts of these elements in continental aerosols with mixed fossil fuel and soil sources.