PM_(2.5) in an industrial district of Zhengzhou,China:Chemical composition and source apportionment

Zhengzhou is a developing city in China, that is heavily polluted by high levels of particulate matter. In this study, fine particulate matter （PM2.5） was collected and analyzed for their chemical composition （soluble ions, elements, elemental carbon （EC） and organic carbon （OC）） in an industrial district of Zhengzhou in 2010. The average concentrations of PM2.5 were 181, 122, 186 and 211 μg/m3 for spring, summer, autumn and winter, respectively, with an annual average of 175 μg/m3, far exceeding the PM2.5 regulation of USA National Air Quality Standards （15 μg/m3）. The dominant components of PM2.5 in Zhengzhou were secondary ions （sulphate and nitrate） and carbon fractions. Soluble ions, total carbon and elements contributed 41%, 13% and 3% of PM2.5 mass, respectively. Soil dust, secondary aerosol and coal combustion, each contributing about 26%, 24% and 23% of total PM2.5 mass, were the major sources of PM2.5, according to the result of positive matrix factorization analysis. A mixed source of biomass burning, oil combustion and incineration contributed 13% of PM2.5. Fine particulate matter arising from vehicles and industry contributed about 10% and 4% of PM2.5, respectively.

Assessment of heavy metal pollution characteristics and human health risk of exposure to ambient PM_(2.5) in Tianjin,China

To examine the features of heavy metal pollution of PM2.5 （particulate matter less than 2.5 μm） in Tianjin, China, as well as the exposure risk of PM2.5 to human health, we analyzed ambient PM2.5samples collected from a campus of Nankai University in June, August, and October 2012. The concentrations of PM2.5 and heavy metals （Ni, Cu, Pb, Zn, Cr, Cd, Hg, As and Mn） in PM2.5 were analyzed by gravimetric analysis and inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry, respectively. The results show that the heavy metals contained in PM2.5 were, in descending order, Cu, Zn, Pb, Mn, Cr, Ni, Cd, As, and Hg. The proportion of Cd exceeded the secondary level of National Ambient Air Quality Standard of China （GB 3095-2012） by 1.3 times, while others were within the limit. Enrichment factor analysis indicated that Cu, Zn, Cd, Pb, and Hg are mainly from anthropogenic sources. Principal component analysis indicated that the main sources of the heavy metals are vehicle exhaust, chemical waste, and coal-burning activities. The nine heavy metals which may cause health issues by exposure through the human respiratory system and should be further examined are Cr, Cd, As, Ni, Cu, Pb, Mn, Zn, and Hg, in the order of decreasing risk levels. With reference to the U.S. EPA standard the risk levels of all nine metals were below the acceptable level （10 6/year）.

Trace metals in atmospheric fine particles in one industrial urban city: Spatial variations, sources, and health implications

Trace metals in PM2.5 were measured at one industrial site and one urban site during September, 2010 in Ji＇nan, eastern China. Individual aerosol particles and PM2.5 samples were collected concurrently at both sites. Mass concentrations of eleven trace metals （i.e., Al, Ti, Cr, Mn, Fe, Ni, Cu, Zn, Sr, Ba, and Pb） and one metalloid （i.e., As） were measured by inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopy （ICP-AES）. The result shows that mass concentrations of PM2.5 （130μg/m3） and trace metals （4.03 μg/m3） at the industrial site were 1.3 times and 1.7 times higher than those at the urban site, respectively, indicating that industrial activities nearby the city can emit trace metals into the surrounding atmosphere. Fe concentrations were the highest among all the measured trace metals at both sites, with concentrations of 1.04 ixg/m 3 at the urban site and 2.41 Itg/m3 at the industrial site, respectively. In addition, Pb showed the highest enrichment factors at both sites, suggesting the emissions from anthropogenic activities existed around the city. Correlation coefficient analysis and principal component analysis revealed that Cu, Fe, Mn, Pb, and Zn were originated from vehicular traffic and industrial emissions at both sites; As, Cr, and part of Pb from coal-fired power plant; Ba and Ti from natural soil. Based on the transmission electron microscopy analysis, we found that most of the trace metals were internally mixed with secondary sulfate/organic particles. These internally mixed trace metals in the urban air may have different toxic abilities compared with externally mixed trace metals.