Distribution characteristics, source apportionment, and health risk assessment of metals and metalloids in PM2.5 in a southern city in 2019

BackgroundMetals and metalloids in fine particulate matter (PM2.5) may cause damage to the respiratory and circulatory systems of the human body, and long-term exposure is prone to causing chronic poisoning, cancer, and other adverse effects. ObjectiveTo assess the distribution characteristics of me...

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Main Authors: Yaxin QU, Suli HUANG, Chao WANG, Jie JIANG, Jiajia JI, Daokui FANG, Shaohua XIE, Xiaoheng LI, Ning LIU
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Editorial Committee of Journal of Environmental and Occupational Medicine 2025-02-01
Series:环境与职业医学
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Online Access:http://www.jeom.org/article/cn/10.11836/JEOM24271
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author Yaxin QU
Suli HUANG
Chao WANG
Jie JIANG
Jiajia JI
Daokui FANG
Shaohua XIE
Xiaoheng LI
Ning LIU
author_facet Yaxin QU
Suli HUANG
Chao WANG
Jie JIANG
Jiajia JI
Daokui FANG
Shaohua XIE
Xiaoheng LI
Ning LIU
author_sort Yaxin QU
collection DOAJ
description BackgroundMetals and metalloids in fine particulate matter (PM2.5) may cause damage to the respiratory and circulatory systems of the human body, and long-term exposure is prone to causing chronic poisoning, cancer, and other adverse effects. ObjectiveTo assess the distribution characteristics of metals and metalloids in outdoor PM2.5 in a southern city of China, conduct source apportionment, and evaluate the associated health risks, thereby providing theoretical support for further pollution control measures. MethodsPM2.5 samples were collected in districts A, B, and C of a southern China city, and the concentrations of 17 metals and metalloids were detected by inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). Pollution sources were assessed through enrichment factor and principal components analysis, and the main pollution sources were quantified using absolute principal component scores-multivariate linear regression (APCS-MLR). Health risks were evaluated based on the Technical guide for environmental health risk assessment of chemical exposure (WS/T777—2021). ResultsThe ambient air PM2.5 concentrations in the city were higher in winter and spring, and lower in summer and autumn. The annual average concentrations of ambient PM2.5 in districts A, B, and C were 36.7, 31.9, and 24.4 μg·m−3, respectively. The ambient PM2.5 levels in districts B and C were below the second-grade limit set by the Ambient air quality standards (GB 3095—2012). The enrichment factors of cadmium (Cd), aluminum (Al), and antimony (Sb) were greater than 10, those of copper (Cu), lead (Pb), arsenic (As), nickel (Ni), mercury (Hg), and molybdenum (Mo) fell between 1 and 10, and those of manganese (Mn), vanadium (V), chromium (Cr), cobalt (Co), barium (Ba), beryllium (Be), and uranium (U) were below or equal to 1. The comprehensive evaluation of source analysis showed that the main pollution sources in districts A and C and the whole city were coal-burning. In district B, the main pollution source was also coal combustion, followed by industrial process sources and dust sources. The carcinogenic risks of As and Cr were between 1×10−6 and 1×10−4. However, the hazard quotients for 15 metals and metalloids in terms of non-carcinogenic risk were below 1. ConclusionCr and As in the atmospheric PM2.5 of the city present a certain risk of cancer and should be paid attention to. In addition, preventive control measures should be taken against relevant pollution sources such as industrial emission, dust, and coal burning.
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spelling doaj-art-f84a89900dd242559b9db033caa460ff2025-08-20T03:15:26ZengEditorial Committee of Journal of Environmental and Occupational Medicine环境与职业医学2095-99822025-02-0142219620410.11836/JEOM2427124271Distribution characteristics, source apportionment, and health risk assessment of metals and metalloids in PM2.5 in a southern city in 2019Yaxin QU0Suli HUANG1Chao WANG2Jie JIANG3Jiajia JI4Daokui FANG5Shaohua XIE6Xiaoheng LI7Ning LIU8School of Public Health, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, Fujian 350122, ChinaShenzhen Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518055, ChinaShenzhen Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518055, ChinaShenzhen Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518055, ChinaShenzhen Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518055, ChinaShenzhen Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518055, ChinaSchool of Public Health, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, Fujian 350122, ChinaShenzhen Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518055, ChinaShenzhen Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518055, ChinaBackgroundMetals and metalloids in fine particulate matter (PM2.5) may cause damage to the respiratory and circulatory systems of the human body, and long-term exposure is prone to causing chronic poisoning, cancer, and other adverse effects. ObjectiveTo assess the distribution characteristics of metals and metalloids in outdoor PM2.5 in a southern city of China, conduct source apportionment, and evaluate the associated health risks, thereby providing theoretical support for further pollution control measures. MethodsPM2.5 samples were collected in districts A, B, and C of a southern China city, and the concentrations of 17 metals and metalloids were detected by inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). Pollution sources were assessed through enrichment factor and principal components analysis, and the main pollution sources were quantified using absolute principal component scores-multivariate linear regression (APCS-MLR). Health risks were evaluated based on the Technical guide for environmental health risk assessment of chemical exposure (WS/T777—2021). ResultsThe ambient air PM2.5 concentrations in the city were higher in winter and spring, and lower in summer and autumn. The annual average concentrations of ambient PM2.5 in districts A, B, and C were 36.7, 31.9, and 24.4 μg·m−3, respectively. The ambient PM2.5 levels in districts B and C were below the second-grade limit set by the Ambient air quality standards (GB 3095—2012). The enrichment factors of cadmium (Cd), aluminum (Al), and antimony (Sb) were greater than 10, those of copper (Cu), lead (Pb), arsenic (As), nickel (Ni), mercury (Hg), and molybdenum (Mo) fell between 1 and 10, and those of manganese (Mn), vanadium (V), chromium (Cr), cobalt (Co), barium (Ba), beryllium (Be), and uranium (U) were below or equal to 1. The comprehensive evaluation of source analysis showed that the main pollution sources in districts A and C and the whole city were coal-burning. In district B, the main pollution source was also coal combustion, followed by industrial process sources and dust sources. The carcinogenic risks of As and Cr were between 1×10−6 and 1×10−4. However, the hazard quotients for 15 metals and metalloids in terms of non-carcinogenic risk were below 1. ConclusionCr and As in the atmospheric PM2.5 of the city present a certain risk of cancer and should be paid attention to. In addition, preventive control measures should be taken against relevant pollution sources such as industrial emission, dust, and coal burning.http://www.jeom.org/article/cn/10.11836/JEOM24271pm2.5metaldistribution characteristicsource apportionmenthealth risk assessment
spellingShingle Yaxin QU
Suli HUANG
Chao WANG
Jie JIANG
Jiajia JI
Daokui FANG
Shaohua XIE
Xiaoheng LI
Ning LIU
Distribution characteristics, source apportionment, and health risk assessment of metals and metalloids in PM2.5 in a southern city in 2019
环境与职业医学
pm2.5
metal
distribution characteristic
source apportionment
health risk assessment
title Distribution characteristics, source apportionment, and health risk assessment of metals and metalloids in PM2.5 in a southern city in 2019
title_full Distribution characteristics, source apportionment, and health risk assessment of metals and metalloids in PM2.5 in a southern city in 2019
title_fullStr Distribution characteristics, source apportionment, and health risk assessment of metals and metalloids in PM2.5 in a southern city in 2019
title_full_unstemmed Distribution characteristics, source apportionment, and health risk assessment of metals and metalloids in PM2.5 in a southern city in 2019
title_short Distribution characteristics, source apportionment, and health risk assessment of metals and metalloids in PM2.5 in a southern city in 2019
title_sort distribution characteristics source apportionment and health risk assessment of metals and metalloids in pm2 5 in a southern city in 2019
topic pm2.5
metal
distribution characteristic
source apportionment
health risk assessment
url http://www.jeom.org/article/cn/10.11836/JEOM24271
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