Sources appointment and health risks of PM_(2.5)-bound trace elements in a coastal city of southeastern China

To gain a comprehensive understanding of sources and health risks of trace elements in an area of China with high population densities and low PM_(2.5)concentrations,15 trace elements(Al,K,Ca,Ti,V,Cr,Mn,Fe,Ni,Cu,Zn,As,Sn,Ba,Pb)in PM_(2.5)were monitored from December 2020 to November 2021 in a representative city,Xiamen.The concentrations of trace elements in Xiamen displayed an obvious seasonal variation and were dominated by K,Fe,Al,Ca and Zn.Based on Positive Matrix Factorization analysis,source appointment revealed that the major sources of trace elements in Xiamen were traffic,dust,biomass and firework combustion,industrial manufacture and shipping emission.According to health risk assessment combined with the source appointment results,it indicated that the average noncarcinogenic risk was below the threshold and cancer risk of four hazardous metals(Cr,Ni,As,Pb)exceeded the threshold(10^(-6)).Traffic-related source had almost half amount of contribution to the health risk induced by PM_(2.5)-bound trace elements.During the dust transport period or Spring Festival period,the health risks exceeded an acceptable threshold even an order of magnitude higher,suggesting that the serious health risks still existed in low PM_(2.5)environment at certain times.Health risk assessment reminded that the health risk reduction in PM_(2.5)at southeastern China should prioritize traffic-related hazardous trace elements and highlighted the importance of controlling vehicles emissions in the future.

Abundance and sources of particulate polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and aromatic acids at an urban site in central China

We conducted a simultaneous field study of PM_(2.5)-bound particulate polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons(PAHs)and aromatic acids(AAs)in a polluted city Zhengzhou to explore the concentration,sources and potential conversion pathways between PAHs and AAs in different seasons.The average concentrations of PM_(2.5),28PAHs and 8AAs during the sampling period were 77μg/m^(3),75 ng/m^(3),and 283 ng/m^(3),respectively.The concentration of both28PAHs and 8AAs were highest in winter and lowest in summer with ratios of 6.3 and 2.3,respectively.PAHs with 5-7 rings were the main components of PAHs(52%),followed by 4rings PAHs(30%)and 2-3 rings PAHs(18%).According to the source appointment results obtained by positive matrix factorization,the main sources of PAHs were combustion and vehicle emissions,which account for 37%and 34%,respectively.8AAs were divided into three groups,including four benzene dicarboxylic acids(B2CAs),three benzene tricarboxylic acids(B3CAs)and one benzene tetracarboxylic acid(B4CA).And interspecies correlation analysis with PM_(2.5)source markers were used to investigate potential sources.Phthalic acid(o-Ph)was the most abundant specie of 8AAs(157 ng/m^(3),55%of 8AAs),which was well correlated with sulfate.Meanwhile,B3CAs and B4CA were highly correlated with sulfate and weakly correlated with levoglucosan,suggesting that secondary formation was their main source.As logical oxidation products of PAHs,o-Ph and B3CAs showed good correlations with a number of PAHs,indicating possible photochemical oxidation pathway by PAHs.In addition,O_(3),NO_(2),temperature and relative humidity have positive effects on the secondary formation of B3CAs.

Particle-bound polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in typical urban of Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau:Characterization,sources and risk assessment

Monthly particle-phase ambient samples collected at six sampling locations in Yuxi,a high-altitude city on the edge of Southeast Asia,were measured for particle-associated PAHs.As trace substances,polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons(PAHs)are susceptible to the influences of meteorological conditions,emissions,and gas-particulate partitioning and it is challenging job to precise quantify the source and define the transmission path.The daily concentrations of total PM_(2.5)-bound PAHs ranged from 0.65 to 80.76 ng/m^(3),with an annual mean of 11.94 ng/m^(3).Here,we found that the concentration of PM_(2.5)-bound PAHs in winter was significantly higher than that in summer,which was mainly due to source and meteorology influence.The increase of fossil combustion and biomass burning in cold season became the main contributors of PAHs,while precipitation and low temperature exacerbated this difference.According to the concentration variation trend of PM_(2.5)-bound PAHs and their relationship with meteorological conditions,a new grouping of PAHs is applied,which suggested that PAHs have different environmental fates and migration paths.A combination of source analysis and trajectory model supported local sources from combustion of fossil fuel and vehicle exhaust contributed to the major portion on PAHs in particle,but on the Indochina Peninsula the large number of pollutants emitted by biomass burning during the fire season would affect the composition of PAHs through long-range transporting.Risk assessment in spatial and temporal variability suggested that citizens living in industrial areas were higher health risk caused by exposure the PM_(2.5)-bound PAHs than that in other regions,and the risk in winter was three times than in summer.

Investigation of PM_(2.5) pollution during COVID-19 pandemic in Guangzhou,China

The COVID-19 pandemic has raised awareness about various environmental issues,includ-ing PM_(2.5) pollution.Here,PM_(2.5) pollution during the COVID-19 lockdown was traced and an-alyzed to clarify the sources and factors influencing PM_(2.5) in Guangzhou,with an emphasis on heavy pollution.The lockdown led to large reductions in industrial and traffic emissions,which significantly reduced PM_(2.5) concentrations in Guangzhou.Interestingly,the trend of PM_(2.5) concentrations was not consistent with traffic and industrial emissions,as minimum concentrations were observed in the fourth period(3/01-3/31,22.45 μg/m^(3))of the lockdown.However,the concentrations of other gaseous pollutants,e.g.,SO_(2),NO_(2) and CO,were corre-lated with industrial and traffic emissions,and the lowest values were noticed in the sec-ond period(1/24-2/0_(3))of the lockdown.Meteorological correlation analysis revealed that the decreased PM_(2.5) concentrations during COVID-19 can be mainly attributed to decreased in-dustrial and traffic emissions rather than meteorological conditions.When meteorological factors were included in the PM_(2.5) composition and backward trajectory analyses,we found that long-distance transportation and secondary pollution offset the reduction of primary emissions in the second and third stages of the pandemic.Notably,industrial PM_(2.5) emis-sions from western,southern and southeastern Guangzhou play an important role in the formation of heavy pollution events.Our results not only verify the importance of control-ling traffic and industrial emissions,but also provide targets for further improvements in PM_(2.5) pollution.