Characteristics and health risk assessment of heavy metal pollution in atmospheric particulate matter in different regions of the Yellow River Delta in China.

ABSTRACT

To understand the characteristics, temporal and spatial variation, and health risks of atmospheric heavy metal pollution in different areas of the YRD (Yellow River Delta), atmospheric particles samples were collected in the YRD in China during 2016-2017. A total of 10 monitoring points were chosen in different areas (industrial parks, main urban areas, and rural areas) in the YRD, heavy metals were monitored using atomic fluorescence spectrometry and graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry. The results showed that TSP (total suspended particulate), PM10 (particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter less than 10 µm), and PM2.5 (particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter less than 2.5 µm) contents were higher in the Kenli EDZ (economic development zone) and Kenli urban areas than those in other points. The concentration range of heavy metals in atmospheric samples at 10 points was different, with a difference of five orders of magnitude, of which the content of copper (Cu) was the highest, with the highest concentration of 4.375 µg/m3, and the content of particulate mercury (Hg) was the lowest, with the minimum concentration of 0.00001 µg/m3. Among the nine heavy metals, the contents of cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb), and Hg were higher in winter than in summer, and chromium (Cr), nickel (Ni), Cu, and manganese (Mn) were higher in summer than in winter. In addition to Hg, the contents of the other eight heavy metals in particulate matter showed a trend that urban areas and EDZs had higher concentrations than cities and towns and nature reserves, which can be attributed to industrial activities and coal-fired fuel emissions. Health risk assessment was carried out for adults and children, respectively, and the results showed that carcinogens have no obvious carcinogenic risk, but As and Cr have major potential carcinogenic risk. Among the noncarcinogenic substances, Mn has the greatest noncarcinogenic risk, and urban areas and economic development zones have the greatest risk. This study investigated the characteristics and health risk assessment of atmospheric heavy metal pollution in different areas in the YRD to supplement the research contents of atmospheric particulate heavy metals in the YRD in domestics and overseas. It is also critical to study the pollution and migration of heavy metals in China.