Sources and uncertainties of health risks for PM2.5-bound heavy metals based on synchronous online and offline filter-based measurements in a Chinese megacity

Rui Chen; Yehui Zhao; Yingze Tian; Xin Feng; Yinchang Feng

doi:10.1016/j.envint.2022.107236

Sources and uncertainties of health risks for PM_2.5-bound heavy metals based on synchronous online and offline filter-based measurements in a Chinese megacity

Environ Int. 2022 Jun:164:107236. doi: 10.1016/j.envint.2022.107236. Epub 2022 Apr 15.

Authors

Rui Chen¹, Yehui Zhao¹, Yingze Tian², Xin Feng¹, Yinchang Feng³

Affiliations

¹ State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Urban Ambient Air Particulate Matter Pollution Prevention and Control, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nankai University, Tianjin 300350, China.
² State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Urban Ambient Air Particulate Matter Pollution Prevention and Control, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nankai University, Tianjin 300350, China; CMA-NKU Cooperative Laboratory for Atmospheric Environment-Health Research, Tianjin 300350, China. Electronic address: 015058@nankai.edu.cn.
³ State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Urban Ambient Air Particulate Matter Pollution Prevention and Control, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nankai University, Tianjin 300350, China; CMA-NKU Cooperative Laboratory for Atmospheric Environment-Health Research, Tianjin 300350, China.

PMID: 35447425
DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2022.107236

Abstract

Accurate measurements of PM_2.5 related heavy metals (HMs) and some components are critical to better understanding the sources and health risks of PM_2.5. HMs and other components in PM_2.5 were simultaneously measured using online and offline filter-based methods in a Chinese megacity. Online Mn, Pb, Cu, and Zn concentrations exhibited good correspondence with offline results (R² ≥ 0.7, relative biases = -3%-22%). Some differences were observed for Cr, As, Co, and V. The assessment of online and offline probabilistic health risks indicated that non-cancer and total cancer risks were higher than the acceptable limits. Different analytical methods of As may result in different uncertainties in risk analysis. The positive matrix factorization model (PMF) was used to perform online and offline source apportionment. Five sources (coal combustion, vehicle source, industrial source, secondary source, and resuspended dust) were identified. Lower online percentage contribution of resuspended dust (8%) might relate to the lack of Si and Al measurements. The different rate contributions of vehicle source were potentially linked to the different time resolutions of the online and offline data. The assessment of online and offline source-specific health risks revealed that industrial source and coal combustion were the most important sources. Online and offline source-specific risks were not significantly different (P > 0.05). This contrastive study not only helps decision makers to manage health risk more effectively, but also provides insights into the applicability of online and offline measurements for quantifying source-specific risks.

Keywords: Health risk; Heavy metals; Offline filter-based measurement; Online measurement; Uncertainty.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Air Pollutants* / analysis
China
Coal / analysis
Dust / analysis
Environmental Monitoring
Metals, Heavy* / analysis
Particulate Matter / analysis
Risk Assessment

Substances

Air Pollutants
Coal
Dust
Metals, Heavy
Particulate Matter