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Concentrations and Seasonal Variation of Ambient PM2.5 and Associated Metals at a Typical Residential Area in Beijing, China

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Abstract

In this study, continuous monitoring of PM2.5 was carried out for 1 year period at one of the largest residential areas in Beijing. Annual mean of PM2.5 during sampling period was 100.4 µg/m3. The seasonal variation trend of PM2.5 was winter > spring > autumn and summer. The total mass concentrations of metals in PM2.5 ranged from 0.4 to 13.2 μg/m3. There were significant (p < 0.05) seasonal variations for concentrations of Ca, Al, Mn, As, Rb, Cr, Ni, Cd and Co, seasonal variations in PM-associated metals were not necessarily the same as the seasonal variation in PM2.5, related to differing seasonal trends in source types. The impact of meteorological factors (e.g., wind speed) on metals levels of PM2.5 was found to be significant by regression models. The EFs value of Ag, Ca, Cd, Pb, Zn, As, Cu, and Cr were higher than ten, suggesting that those elements were primarily contributed by anthropogenic sources. Seasonal characteristic of EFs were found for As, Cr, Ca and Ag, which indicating the seasonal pollution sources types for those metals. Overall, these findings indicated that the pollution control of ambient PM2.5 should not be negligible in residential area in Beijing and the local government should pertinent and accurate prevent and control of air pollution as well as protect human health.

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Abbreviations

PM:

Atmospheric particulate matters

PM10 :

The coarse PM, aerodynamic diameter of particle ≤10 µm

PM2.5 :

The fine PM, aerodynamic diameter of particle ≤2.5 µm

RH:

Relative humanity

EF:

Enrichment factor

NAAQS:

National ambient air quality standard

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Acknowledgments

The authors wish to express gratitude to everyone’s kind help in the preparation of this manuscript. This work was carried out under supported from grants GYHY201409011.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. College of Water Sciences, Beijing Normal University, No. 19, XinJieKouWai St., HaiDian District, Beijing, 100875, People’s Republic of China

    Jing Yang, Yanguo Teng & Yeyao Wang

  2. Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, Beijing, 100012, People’s Republic of China

    Jing Yang & Yeyao Wang

  3. State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Quality Control in Environmental Monitoring, China National Environmental Monitoring Center, Beijing, 100012, People’s Republic of China

    Jing Yang, Qiang Fu, Baolin Chu, Yawei Yao & Yeyao Wang

  4. Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang, 330045, People’s Republic of China

    Xiaoshuang Guo

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  1. Jing Yang
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  2. Qiang Fu
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  3. Xiaoshuang Guo
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Correspondence to Yeyao Wang.

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Yang, J., Fu, Q., Guo, X. et al. Concentrations and Seasonal Variation of Ambient PM2.5 and Associated Metals at a Typical Residential Area in Beijing, China. Bull Environ Contam Toxicol 94, 232–239 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00128-014-1443-y

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