Concentrations, Source Characteristics, and Health Risk Assessment of Toxic Heavy Metals in PM 2.5 in a Plateau City (Kunming) in Southwest China

Xinyu Han, Shuai Li, Zezheng Li, Xiaochen Pang, Yuzhai Bao, Jianwu Shi and Ping Ning
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Xinyu Han: Faculty of Civil Engineering and Mechanics, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming 650500, China
Shuai Li: Faculty of Civil Engineering and Mechanics, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming 650500, China
Zezheng Li: Faculty of Environmental Science and Engineering, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming 650500, China
Xiaochen Pang: Faculty of Environmental Science and Engineering, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming 650500, China
Yuzhai Bao: Faculty of Environmental Science and Engineering, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming 650500, China
Jianwu Shi: Faculty of Environmental Science and Engineering, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming 650500, China
Ping Ning: Faculty of Environmental Science and Engineering, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming 650500, China

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 21, 1-19

Abstract: To explore the mass concentration levels and health risks of heavy metals in the air in dense traffic environments, PM 2.5 samples were collected at three sites in the city of Kunming in April and October 2013, and January and May 2014. Ten heavy metals––V, Cr, Mn, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, As, Cd and Pb––were analyzed by ICP–MS, and the results showed PM 2.5 concentrations significantly higher in spring and winter than in summer and autumn, especially for Zn and Pb. The concentration of heavy metals on working days is significantly higher, indicating that vehicle emissions are significant contributors. An enrichment factor analysis showed that Cr, Mn, Ni, Cu, Zn, As, Cd and Pb come mainly from anthropogenic sources, while V and Co may be both anthropogenic and natural. The correlation and principal component analysis (PCA) showed that Ni, Cu, Zn, Cd and Pb mainly come from vehicles emissions and metallurgical industries; Cr and Mn, from vehicles emissions and road dust; and As, mainly from coal combustion. The health risk assessment shows that the non-carcinogenic risk thresholds of the heavy metals in PM 2.5 to children and adult men and women are all less than 1. The carcinogenic risk of Cr for men and women in traffic-intensive areas exceeds 10 ?4 , reaching 1.64 × 10 ?4 and 1.4 × 10 ?4 , respectively.

Keywords: PM 2.5; heavy metals; enrichment factor; principal component analysis; heath risk assessment (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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