Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Characteristics, Sources and Health Risk Assessment of Trace Metals in PM10 in Panzhihua, China

  • Published:
Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Ambient PM10 air samples were collected at two industrial sites and one urban residential site in the mining city of Panzhihua, China, from April, 2014, to January, 2015. Mass concentrations of ten trace metals (As, Cd, Cr, Ni, Co, V, Mn, Cu, Pb, and Zn) in PM10 were determined by inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry. The results showed Zn, Pb, Cu, Mn and V were the most abundant elements from the industrial sites. Concentrations for Cd, Cr, Co, Ni, Mn and Cu at industrial sites greatly exceeded the air quality standards of the World Health Organization and the Chinese Ministry of Environmental Protection. Principal component analysis indicated that the main sources of the trace metals were steel smelting, fuel combustion, geological and mineral dust. Four different clusters of particles (i.e., mineral, calcium-containing, soot and aluminosilicate) were identified by scanning electron microscopy coupled with energy dispersive X-ray spectrometry. Chromium (Cr) was found to present the highest excess cancer risk, implying the potential for carcinogenic health effects in local inhabitants. Manganese (Mn) presented a non-carcinogenic health risk to children and adults, while the other metals were within acceptable limits.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Allen AG, Nemitz E, Shi JP, Harrison RM, Greenwood JC (2001) Size distribution of trace metals in atmospheric aerosol in the United Kingdom. Atmos Environ 35:4581–4591

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Canepari S, Perrino C, Oliviero F, Astolfi ML (2008) Characterization of the traffic sources of PM through size-segregated sampling, sequential leaching and ICP analysis. Atmos Environ 42:8161–8175

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Csavina J, Field J, Taylor M, Gao S, Landazuri A, Betterton E, Saez E (2012) A review on the importance of metals and metalloids in atmospheric dust and aerosol from mining operations. Sci Total Environ 433:58–73

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Duan JC, Tan JH (2013) Atmospheric heavy metals and arsenic in China: situation, sources and control policies. Atmos Environ 74:93–101

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Dubey B, Pal A.K, Singh G (2012) Trace metal composition of airborne particulate matter in the coal mining and non–mining areas of Dhanbad Region, Jharkhand, India. Atmos Pollut Res 3:238–246

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • EPA (1989) Risk assessment guidance for superfund. Volume I: human health evaluation manual (part A). US Environmental Protection Agency. EPA/540/1–89/002

  • GB3095-2012 (2012) Ambient air quality standards (in Chinese). Ministry of Environmental Protection of the People’s Republic of China

  • Heidam NZ (1982) Atmospheric aerosol factor, mass and missing data. Atmos Environ 16(8):1923–1931

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Huang YM, Wei HP, Zhang YM (2009) Source analysis of heavy metals in PM10 of Wu Song district in Shanghai. Environ Sci Technol 32(1):130–133

    Google Scholar 

  • Khodeir M, Shamy M, Alghamdi M, Zhong M, Sun H, Costa M, Chen L.C, Maliejczyk P (2012) Source apportionment and elemental composition of PM2.5 and PM10 in Jeddah city, Saudi Arabia. Atmos Pollut Res 3:331–340

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kitani S, Silva NR, Morita Y (1998) Global environmental pollutant substance vanadium activates mast cells and basophils at the late phase in the presence of hydrogen peroxide. Environ Toxicol Pharmacol 6:1–12

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kong SF, Lu B, Ji YQ, Zhao XY, Chen L, Li ZY, Han B, Bai ZP (2011) Levels, risk assessment and sources of PM10 fraction heavy metals in four types dust from a coal-based city. Microchem J 98:280–290

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lim JM, Lee JH, Moon JH, Chung YS, Kim KH (2010) Airborne PM10 and metals from multifarious sources in an industrial complex area. Atmos Res 96:53–64

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lv WW, Wang YX, Querol X, Zhang XG (2006) Geochemical and statistical analysis of trace metals in atmospheric particulates in Wuhan, central China. Environ Geol 51:211–132

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Manoli E, Voutsa D, Samara C (2002) Chemical characterization and source identification/apportionment of fine and coarse air particles in Thessaloniki, Greece. Atmos Environ 36:949–961

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Mansha M, Ghauri B, Rahman S, Amman A (2012) Characterization and source apportionment of ambient air particulate matter (PM2.5) in Karachi. Sci Total Environ 425:176–183

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Moreno T, Querol X, Alastuey A, Viana M, Salvador P, de la Campa AS, Artinano B, de la Rosa J, Gibbons W (2006) Variations in atmospheric PM trace metal content in Spanish towns: illustrating the chemical complexity of the inorganic urban aerosol cocktail. Atmos Environ 40:6791–6803

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Samara C, Kantiranis N, Kollias P, Planou S, Kouras A, Besis A, Manoli E, Voutsa D (2016) Spatial and seasonal variations of the chemical, mineralogical and morphological features of quasi-ultrafine particles (PM0.49) at urban sites. Sci Total Environ 553:392–403

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Slezakova K, Pires JCM, Pereira MC, Martins F, Alvim-Ferraz MC (2008) Influence of traffic emissions on the composition of atmospheric particles of different sizes—part 2: SEM-EDS characterization. J Atmos Chem 60:221–236

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sonia C, de la Rosa JD, de la Campa AMS, González-Castanedo Y, Fernández-Caliani JC, Gonzalez I, Romero A (2013) Contribution of mine wastes to atmospheric metal deposition in the surrounding area of an abandoned heavily polluted mining district (Rio Tinto mines, Spain). Sci Total Environ 449:363–372

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sun Y, Zhuang G, Wang Y, Han L, Guo J, Dan M, Zhang M, Wang Z, Hao Z (2004) The air-borne particulate pollution in Beijing—concentration, composition, distribution and sources. Atmos Environ 38:5991–6004

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Tan DB (2005) Study of air pollution feature and source judgment of Panzhihua city. J Panzhihua Univ 4:110–114

    Google Scholar 

  • Tan JH, Duan JC (2013) China’s atmospheric particulates and heavy metal pollution sources and control suggestions. JGSCAS 30:146–148

    Google Scholar 

  • Taus N, Tarulescu S, Idomir M, Taus R (2008) Respiratory exposure to air pollutants. J Environ Ecol 9:15–25

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Thomaidis NS, Bakeas EB, Siskos PA (2003) Characterization of lead, cadmium, arsenic and nickel in PM2.5 particles in the Athens atmosphere, Greece. Chemosphere 52(6):959–966

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Tian HZ, Lu L, Cheng K, Hao JM, Zhao D, Wang Y (2012) Anthropogenic atmospheric nickel emissions and its distribution characteristics in China. Sci Total Environ 417:148–157

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • U.S Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) (2011) Exposure Factors Handbook. National Center for Environmental Assessment, Washington, DC; EPA/600/R-09/052F. Available from the National Technical Information Service, Springfield, VA

  • Wang JQ, Sun ML, Li SL, Zhu ZH (1985) Assessment of atmospheric pollution and effect of human health risks. Sichuan Environ 4(4):12–23

    Google Scholar 

  • WHO (2002) World health report. Reducing health risks, promoting health life. World Health Organization, Geneva

    Google Scholar 

  • WHO (World Health Organization) (2000) Guideline for air quality. World Health Organization, Geneva

    Google Scholar 

  • Wu T, Lan CY (2004) Vanadium and its effects on human health in the environment. Trace elements in Guangdong. Science 11(1):11–13

    Google Scholar 

  • Xu OY, Yan WY, Wang XR, Tang SB, Lu XH, Zhao YF (1984) Distribution characteristics of heavy metals in the atmosphere in Dukou city. Environ Chem 3(5):35–42

    Google Scholar 

  • Xue YH, Wu JH, Feng YC, Dai L, Bi XH, Li X, Tang Z, Tang SB, Chen MF (2010) Sources characterization and apportionment of PM10 in Panzhihua, China. Aerosol Air Qual Res 10 367–377

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zheng N, Liu JS, Wang QC, Liang ZZ (2010) Heavy metal exposure of children from stairway and sidewalk dust in the smelting district, Northwest of China. Atmos Res 44(27):3239–3245

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zhou SZ, Yuan Q, Li WJ, Lu YL, Zhang YM, Wang WX (2014) Trace metals in atmospheric fine particles in one industrial urban city: spatial variations, sources, and health implications. J Environ Sci 26:205–213

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zou BF, He ZY (1993) Environmental chemistry of vanadium. Environ Pollut Ctrl 15:26–31

    CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

This study was supported by the special State International Cooperation Plan (2013DFA21690) and the National Natural Scientific Foundation of China (41273124).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Applied Nuclear Technology in Geosciences Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Chengdu University of Technology, Chengdu, 610059, Sichuan, China

    Xin Cheng, Yi Huang, Zhijie Long, Shijun Ni, Zeming Shi & Chengjiang Zhang

  2. College of Earth Science, Chengdu University of Technology, Chengdu, 610059, Sichuan, China

    Xin Cheng, Yi Huang, Shijun Ni, Zeming Shi & Chengjiang Zhang

Authors
  1. Xin Cheng
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Yi Huang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Zhijie Long
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Shijun Ni
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Zeming Shi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Chengjiang Zhang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Yi Huang.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Cheng, X., Huang, Y., Long, Z. et al. Characteristics, Sources and Health Risk Assessment of Trace Metals in PM10 in Panzhihua, China. Bull Environ Contam Toxicol 98, 76–83 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00128-016-1979-0

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00128-016-1979-0

Keywords

Search

Navigation