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Elements in Fine Particulate Matter (PM\(_{2.5}\)) from Indoor Air During Household Stoves Coal Combustion at Xuanwei, China

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Abstract

The characteristics of elements in fine particulate matter (PM\(_{2.5}\)) emitted during indoor coal combustion in Xuanwei were investigated. Lead (Pb) emissions were high among the trace elements at all sampling locations. The average Pb concentrations in “Laibin” samples were \(\sim \)1.5 time higher than “non-Laibin” samples and were statistically significantly difference (paired t test). Concentration ratios normalized to total suspended particles for the elements were also characterized and compared between the two types of locations. Element ratio (Se/S) values were different with another study, suggesting possible different composition characteristics of the samples in Xuanwei compared with other regions in China. These findings provide information about concentrations of elements in different types of coal samples emission during household coal combustion. There is a need to address the health effects of environmentally relevant doses of elements in fine particulate matter, considering life-long exposure of people in indoor dwellings.

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Acknowledgements

This study is supported by project under the Research Grants Council of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region China (Project No. CUHK 412612). On behalf of all authors, the corresponding author states that there is no conflict of interest. The author would like to thank Xiao-Cui Chen for her assistance in laboratory.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. The Jockey Club School of Public Health and Primary Care, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China

    K. H. Lui, C. S. Chan & K. F. Ho

  2. Key Laboratory of Aerosol Chemistry and Physics, SKLLQG, Institute of Earth Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xi’an, 710075, China

    Jun-Ji Cao & K. F. Ho

  3. School of Public Health, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China

    Linwei Tian

  4. Chronic Non-Infectious Disease Control Department, Xuanwei City Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Xuanwei, 655400, China

    Bo-Fu Ning

  5. Coal Geology Prospecting Institute of Yunnan Province, Kunming, 650218, China

    Yiping Zhou, Xiaolin Song & Jinwen Li

  6. Institute of Global Environmental Change, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, China

    Jun-Ji Cao

  7. Department of Civil and Structural Engineering, Research Center of Urban Environmental Technology and Management, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, China

    S. C. Lee

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  1. K. H. Lui
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  9. S. C. Lee
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Correspondence to K. F. Ho.

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Lui, K.H., Chan, C.S., Tian, L. et al. Elements in Fine Particulate Matter (PM\(_{2.5}\)) from Indoor Air During Household Stoves Coal Combustion at Xuanwei, China. Aerosol Sci Eng 1, 41–50 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s41810-017-0004-2

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