Atmospheric particulate matter (PM) from multinatural and anthropogenic sources poses serious risk to human health and contaminates soil and water resources as it settles back to ground environment and ecosystem. In this study, dust deposition flux (DDF), pollution load index (PLI) of heavy metals, enrichment factor (EF), and settling flux (SF) of eighteen chemical elements were investigated in comparison with crustal composition to assess the influence of anthropogenic emission on PM in major northern Chinese cities. The annual DDF in Lanzhou, Huhhot, Beijing, Zhengzhou, and Harbin was 134.7, 240.6, 103.7, 124.7, and 196.7 g m-2, respectively. The annual EF of Zn in Harbin, Cd in Lanzhou, and Cd in Beijing was 736.4, 248.6, and 166.3, respectively. Most of the inspected elements were enriched during winter in Lanzhou. Annual PLI showed that deposited dust in Beijing had the highest concentration of heavy metals. Seasonal PLI exhibited obvious changes in different cities. The annual SF of crustal elements was 1-5 orders higher than that of heavy metals. The highest annual SF of elements was identified mainly in Lanzhou and Huhhot. Sulfur, cadmium, copper, lead, and zinc in the dustfall of most urban areas were from human activities. Fossil fuel burning, metal smelting, mining, construction, and vehicle exhaust are the major sources of enriched elements in dustfall in urban areas of northern China. Toxic pollutants with dustfall are widespread and persistent, which deserves public concern in future sustainable development.
Keywords: Deposited atmospheric dust; Dust deposition flux; Enrichment factor; Pollution load index; Settling flux of elements.