Pollution Characteristics and Health Risk Assessment of Airborne Heavy Metals Collected from Beijing Bus Stations

Xiaoxia Zheng, Wenji Zhao, Xing Yan, Tongtong Shu, Qiulin Xiong and Fantao Chen
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Xiaoxia Zheng: Department of Cartography and Geographic Information System, College of Resource Environment and Tourism, Capital Normal University, Beijing 100048, China
Wenji Zhao: Department of Cartography and Geographic Information System, College of Resource Environment and Tourism, Capital Normal University, Beijing 100048, China
Xing Yan: Department of Land Surveying and Geo-Informatics, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, China
Tongtong Shu: Department of Cartography and Geographic Information System, College of Resource Environment and Tourism, Capital Normal University, Beijing 100048, China
Qiulin Xiong: Department of Cartography and Geographic Information System, College of Resource Environment and Tourism, Capital Normal University, Beijing 100048, China
Fantao Chen: Department of Cartography and Geographic Information System, College of Resource Environment and Tourism, Capital Normal University, Beijing 100048, China

IJERPH, 2015, vol. 12, issue 8, 1-14

Abstract: Airborne dust, which contains high levels of toxic metals, is recognized as one of the most harmful environment component. The purpose of this study was to evaluate heavy metals pollution in dustfall from bus stations in Beijing, and to perform a risk assessment analysis for adult passengers. The concentrations of Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Mo, Ni, Pb, V and Zn were determined by inductively coupled plasma mass spectroscopy (ICP-MS). The spatial distribution, pollution level and potential health risk of heavy metals were analyzed by Geographic Information System (GIS) mapping technology, geo-accumulation index and health risk assessment model, respectively. The results indicate that dust samples have elevated metal concentrations, especially for Cd, Cu, Pb and Zn. The nine metals can be divided into two categories in terms of spatial distribution and pollution level. Cd, Cr, Cu, Mo, Pb and Zn reach contaminated level and have similar spatial patterns with hotspots distributed within the Fifth Ring Road. While the hot spot areas of Co and V are always out of the Fifth Ring Road. Health risk assessment shows that both carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic risks of selected metals were within the safe range.

Keywords: dustfall; heavy metals; bus station; health risk (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2015
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (4)

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