Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Assessment of heavy metal characteristics and health risks associated with PM2.5 in Xi’an, the largest city in northwestern China

  • Published:
Air Quality, Atmosphere & Health Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Fine particulate matters (PM2.5) samples were collected in Xi’an, northwestern China, from May 2015 to April 2016. The concentrations, seasonal variations, potential sources, and health risks for personal exposure for ten metallic elements (i.e., Ba, Zn, Cu, As, Ni, Pb, Mn, Cr, Cd, and Hg) bounded to PM2.5 were determined and assessed in this study. The results showed that the average PM2.5 mass concentration in Xi’an was 62.1 ± 35.0 μg m−3 during the sampling period. The annual concentration of the total quantified elements was 2459.5 ± 1789.8 ng m−3, with relatively higher values in winter (3334.9 ± 1690.9 ng m−3) and spring (2809.4 ± 2465.4 ng m−3), in comparison of those in summer (1857.6 ± 1162.7 ng m−3) and autumn (1252.5 ± 842.4 ng m−3). Two elements of Ba (678.0 ± 684.9 ng m−3) and Zn (1264.8 ± 725.3 ng m−3) had greater fluctuations in concentrations and were accounted for more than 80% of the concentration of total quantified elements for each season. The concentrations of As in Xi’an exceeded the national standard in China. The enrichment factors (EFs) of most target heavy metals were high, exceeding 100 for Zn, As, Pb, Cd, and Hg, attributed to strong influences from human activities. Moreover, the largest enrichment of heavy metals in PM2.5 occurred in Xi’an in winter. Principle component analysis (PCA) was applied for source apportionment. Coal and other fuel combustion, vehicle exhaust, and industrial activities were the three major pollution sources which contributed 43.6, 29.9, and 15.3%, respectively, of the total variance of PM2.5. The health risk assessment showed that the non-cancer risks of As, Pb, and Cr for children were greater than 1, as well as of As for adults. The cancer risks of As and Cr were higher than 1 × 10−6, indicating that the two elements had high potentials for both non-cancer and cancer risks. Our finding suggests that the PM2.5 and related heavy metal pollutions in Xi’an were serious and posed high potential health risks. Effective controls and measures should be established in the studied area.

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
Fig. 3
Fig. 4

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Adachi K, Tainosho Y (2004) Characterization of heavy metal particles embedded in tire dust. Environ Int 30(8):1009–1017

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Air Quality Guidelines, Particulate matter, ozone, nitrogen dioxide and sulfur dioxide (2006) World Health Organization. WHO press. Geneva

  • Ajmone MF, Biasioli M, Kralj T, Grčman H, Davidson CM, Hursthouse AS, Madrid L, Rodrigues S (2008) Metals in particle–size fractions of the soils of five European cities. Environ Pollut 152:73–81

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ambient air quality standards of the People’s Republic of China (GB 3095–2012) (2012) Ministry of Environmental Protection of the People’s Republic of China. Beijing

  • Cao JJ, Shen ZX, Chow JC, Watson JG, Lee SC, Tie XX, Ho KF, Wang GH, Han YM (2012) Winter and summer PM2.5 chemical compositions in fourteen Chinese cities. J Air Waste Manage Assoc 62(10):1214–1226

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Charlesworth S, Miguel ED, Ordonez A (2011) A review of the distribution of particulate trace elements in urban terrestrial environments and its application to considerations of risk. Environ Geochem Health 33:103–123

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Chen SH, Sun TH, Zhou QX, Wu GP (2002) Interaction between microorganisms and heavy metals and its application. Chin J Appl Ecol 13(2):239–242 (in Chinese with English abstract)

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Chen H, Lu XW, Chang YY, Xue WZ (2014) Heavy metal contamination in dust from kindergartens and elementary schools in Xi’an, China. Environ Earth Sci 71:2701–2709

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Chen PF, Bi XH, Zhang JQ, Wu JH, Feng YC (2015) Assessment of heavy metal pollution characteristics and human health risk of exposure to ambient PM2.5 in Tianjin, China. Particuology 20:104–109

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Deng FL (2008) Analysis on the change of precipitation in Xi’an in the last 57 years. Shaanxi Meteorology 4:21–23 (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Du JH, Zhang YS, He LY (2012) Pollution characteristics and health risk assessment of heavy metals in Shenzhen atmospheric PM2.5. J Environ Health 29(9):838–840 (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Fang GC, Huang YL, Huang JH (2010) Study of atmospheric metallic elements pollution in Asia during 2000–2007. J Hazard Mater 180:115–121

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ferreira BL, De ME (2005) Geochemistry and risk assessment of street dust in Luanda, Angola: a tropical urban environment. Atmos Environ 39:4501–4512

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • General Administration of Quality Supervision Inspection and Quarantine of the People’s Republic of China. Reference Material Certificate, Soil composition analysis standard material (GBW07401–GBW07408) (2003) Geophysical and Geochemical Exploration Research Institute: Langfang, China

  • Han Y, Du P, Cao J, Posmentier ES (2006) Multivariate analysis of heavy metal contamination in urban dusts of Xi’an, Central China. Sci Total Environ 355:176–186

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • He GX, Feng H, Zhang HR (2014) The diffusion and attenuation model of PM2.5 pollution in air. Mathematics Practice Theory 455:107–118

    Google Scholar 

  • Hu X, Zhang Y, Ding ZH, Wang TJ, Lian HZ, Sun YY, Wu JC (2012) Bio-accessibility and health risk of arsenic and heavy metals (Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb, Zn and Mn) in TSP and PM2.5 in Nanjing, China. Atmos Environ 57:146–152

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hu CW, Chao MR, Wu KY (2003) Characterization of multiple airborne particulate metals in the surroundings of a municipal waste incinerator in Taiwan. Atmos Environ 37(20):2845–2552

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Jiao L, Shen JD, Yao L, Yang L (2013) Pollution characteristics and sources of heavy metals in atmospheric dust fall of Hangzhou. Environ Pollution Control 35(1):73–76 (in Chinese with English abstract)

    Google Scholar 

  • Jodeh S, Hasan AR, Amarah J, Judeh F, Salghi R, Lgaz H, Jodeh W (2018) Indoor and outdoor air quality analysis for the city of Nablus in Palestine: seasonal trends of PM10, PM5.0, PM2.5, and PM1.0 of residential homes. Air Quality, Atmosphere Health 11:229–237

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kan HD, Chen RJ, Tong SL (2012) Ambient air pollution, climate change, and population health in China. Environ Int 42(1):10–19

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kong SF, Lu B, Ji YQ, Zhao XY, Bai ZP, Xu YH, Liu Y, Jiang H (2012) Risk assessment of heavy metals in road and soil dusts within PM2.5, PM10 and PM100 fractions in Dongying city, Shandong Province, China. J Environ Monit 14:791–803

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kong SF, Ji YQ, Lu B, Chen L, Han B, Li ZY, Bai ZP (2011) Characterization of PM10 source profiles for fugitive dust in Fushun—a city famous for coal. Atmos Environ 45:5351–5365

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kong SF, Li L, Li XX, Yin Y, Chen K, Liu DT, Yuan L, Zhang YJ, Shan YP, Ji YQ (2015) The impacts of firework burning at the Chinese Spring Festival on air quality: insights of tracers, source evolution and aging processes. Atmos Chem Phys 15:2167–2184

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Khan MF, Hwa SW, Hou LC, Mustaffa NLH, Amil N, Mohamad N, Sahani M, Jaafar SA, Nadzir MSM, Latif MT (2017) Influences of inorganic and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons on the sources of PM2.5 in the Southeast Asian urban sites. Air Quality, Atmosphere Health 10(8):999–1013

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Khan MF, Latif MT, Saw WH, Amil N, Nadzir MSM, Sahani M, Tahir NM, Chung JX (2016) Fine particulate matter in the tropical environment: monsoonal effects, source apportionment, and health risk assessment. Atmospheric Chemistry Physics 16(2):597–617

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lee H, Allen HC (2012) Analytical measurements of atmospheric urban aerosol. Anal Chem 84(3):1196–1201

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lin XH, Zhao Y, Fan XJ, Hu GR, Yu RL (2016) Enrichment characteristics and sources analysis of metal elements in PM2.5 in autumn in Nanchang city. Environ Sci 37(1):35–40

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Liu R, Zhang H, Gou X, Luo XQ, Yang HY (2014) Approaches of health risk assessment for heavy metals applied in China and advance in exposure assessment models: a review. Ecology Environ Sci 23:1239–1244

    Google Scholar 

  • Liu PP, Lei YL, Ren HR, Gao JJ, Xu HM, Shen ZX, Zhang Q, Zheng CL, Liu HX, Zhang RJ, Pan H (2017a) Seasonal variation and health risk assessment of heavy metals in PM2.5 during winter and summer over Xi’an, China. Atmosphere 8(6):91

    Google Scholar 

  • Liu XH, Guo JE, Ma LG, Su B, Zhao HF, Lu JM, Lu Q (2017b) Analysis on source of heavy metal elements in PM2.5, Taiyuan city 2016. Prev Med Tribune 23(8):564–567

    Google Scholar 

  • Lu XW, Li LY, Wang LJ, Lei K, Huang J, Zhai YX (2009) Contamination assessment of mercury and arsenic in roadway dust from Baoji, China. Atmos Environ 43:2489–2496

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Manalis N, Grivas G, Protonotarios V, Moutsatsou A, Samara C, Chaloulakou A (2005) Toxic metal content of particulate matter (PM10), within the Greater Area of Athens. Chemosphere 60(4):557–566

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Meng YT, Zhang YM, Li M (2009) Biogenic Mn oxides for effective desorption of Cd from aquatic environment. Environ Pollut 157:2577–2583

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Mohsenibandpi A, Eslami A, Ghaderpoori M, Shahsavani A, Jeihooni AK, Ghaderpoury A, Alinejad A (2018) Health risk assessment of heavy metals on PM2.5 in Tehran air, Iran. Data Brief 17:347–355

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • National Bureau of Statistics of the People’s Republic of China (2017) China Statistical Yearbook, 2016, China Statistics Press: Beijing, China

  • Okuda TK, Masayuki N, Daisuke N (2008) Trends in hazardous trace metal concentrations in aerosols collected in Beijing, China from 2001 to 2006. Chemosphere 72(6):917–924

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Oliva SR, Espinosa AJF (2007) Monitoring of heavy metals in top soils, atmospheric particles and plant leaves to identify possible contamination sources. Microchem J 86(1):131–139

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Qiu ZW, Xu XQ, Liu WY, Li XX (2018) Investigation into pedestrian exposure to traffic PM around grade separations: a case study in Xi’an, China. Air Quality, Atmosphere & Health PP 1–13

  • Rastogi N, Singh A, Singh D, Sarin MM (2014) Chemical characteristics of PM2.5 at a source region of biomass burning emissions: evidence for secondary aerosol formation. Environ Pollut 184(1):563–569

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Shen ZX, Zhang Q, Cao JJ, Zhang LM, Lei YL, Huang Y, Huang RJ, Gao JJ, Zhao ZZ, Zhu CS, Yin XL, Zheng CL, Xu HM, Liu SX (2017) Optical properties and possible sources of brown carbon in PM2.5 over Xi’an, China. Atmos Environ 150:322–330

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Taylor SR, Mclennan SM (1995) The continental crust: its composition and evolution. An examination of the geochemical record preserved in sedimentary rocks, Blackwell Scientific Publications: Boston

  • Tokalioglu S, Kartal S (2006) Multivariate analysis of the data and speciation of heavy metals in street dust samples from the Organized Industrial District in Kayseri (Turkey). Atmos Environ 40:2797–2805

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • USEPA (1989) Risk Assessment Guidance for Superfund. Part A, Human Health Evaluation Manual. Part E, Supplemental Guidance for Dermal Risk Assessment, Part F, Supplemental Guidance for Inhalation Risk Assessment. Available on–line at, https://www.epa.gov/risk/risk–assessment–guidance–superfund–rags–part

  • USEPA (1996) Soil screening guidance: technical background document. In: Office of soild waste and emergency response, Washington, DC

  • USEPA (2001) Supplemental guidance for developing soil screening levels for superfund sites. In: Office of soild waste and emergency response, Washington, DC

  • USEPA (2007) Framework for metals risk assessment. In: Office of Soild Waste and Emergency Response. USA, Washington, DC

    Google Scholar 

  • USEPA (2011) Exposure Factors Handbook: 2011 Edition. USA Office of Research and Development, Washington, DC 20460

  • Vallius M, Janssen NAH, Heinrich J, Hoek G, Ruuskanen J (2005) Source and elemental composition of PM2.5 in three European cities. Sci Total Environ 337:147–162

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wang P, Cao JJ, Shen ZX, Han YM, Lee SC, Huang Y, Zhu CS, Wang QY, Xu HM, Huang RJ (2015) Spatial and seasonal variations of PM2.5 mass and species during 2010 in Xi’an, China. Sci Total Environ 508:477–487

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wang Y, Zhuang GS, Tang AH, Hui Y, Sun YL, Chen S, Zheng AH (2005) The ion chemistry and the source of PM2.5 aerosol in Beijing. Atmos Environ 39(21):3771–3784

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wang J, Hu ZM, Chen YY (2013) Contamination characteristics and possible sources of PM10 and PM2.5 in different functional areas of Shanghai, China. Atmos Environ 68:221–229

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wei BG, Yang LS (2010) A review of heavy metal contaminations in urban soils, urban road dusts and agricultural soils from China. Microchem J 94:99–107

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Witkowska A, Lewandowska AU, Saniewska D, Falkowska LM (2016) Effect of agriculture and vegetation on carbonaceous aerosol concentrations (PM2.5 and PM10) in Puszcza Borecka National Nature Reserve (Poland). Air Quality, Atmosphere Health 9(7):761–773

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Xu HM, Ho SSH, Cao JJ, Guinot B, Kan HD, Shen ZX, Ho KF, Liu SX, Zhao ZZ, Li JJ, Zhang NN, Zhu CS, Qian Z, Huang RJ (2017) A 10-year observation of PM2.5-bound nickel in Xi’an, China: effects of source control on its trend and associated health risks. Sci Rep 7:41132

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Xu Y, Ying Q, Hu JL, Gao Y, Yang Y, Wang DX, Zhang HL (2018) Spatial and temporal variations in criteria air pollutants in three typical terrain regions in Shaanxi, China, during 2015. Air Quality Atmosphere Health 11(1):95–109

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zhang M, Wang H (2009) Concentrations and chemical forms of potentially toxic metals in road–deposited sediments from different zones of Hangzhou, China. J Environ Sci 21(5):625–631

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zhang N, Han B, He F, Xu J, Niu C, Zhou J, Kong SF, Bai ZP (2015) Characterization, health risk of heavy metals, and source apportionment of atmospheric PM2.5 to children in summer and winter: an exposure panel study in Tianjin, China. Air Quality, Atmosphere Health 8:347–357

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zhen XR (2015) Analysis on the cause of a continuous pollution process in Shanghai in spring. Shanghai urban environmental and meteorological center, Shanghai.

  • Zheng N, Liu JS, Wang QC, Liang ZZ (2010) Health risk assessment of heavy metal exposure to street dust in the zinc smelting district, Northeast of China. Sci Total Environ 408:726–733

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zheng XY, Liu XD, Zhao FH, Duan FK, Yu T, Cachier H (2005) Seasonal characteristics of biomass combustion and emission contribution to atmospheric particulates in Beijing. Science China 35(4):346–352 (in Chinese with English abstract)

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

This study was supported from the open fund by the State Key Laboratory of Loess and Quaternary Geology, Institute of Earth Environment, CAS (SKLLQG1722, SKLLQG1712) and the open fund by the Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Atmospheric Environment Monitoring and Pollution Control (KHK1712), a Project Funded by the Priority Academic Program Development of Jiangsu Higher Education Institutions (PAPD).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, Xi’an Jiaotong University, No. 28 Xianning West Road, Beilin Zone, Xi’an, 710049, China

    Pingping Liu, Huarui Ren, Hongmei Xu, Yali Lei & Zhenxing Shen

  2. Collaborative Innovation Center of Atmospheric Environment and Equipment Technology, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Atmospheric Environment Monitoring and Pollution Control (AEMPC), Nanjing University of Information Science & Technology, Nanjing, China

    Hongmei Xu

Authors
  1. Pingping Liu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Huarui Ren
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Hongmei Xu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Yali Lei
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Zhenxing Shen
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Hongmei Xu.

Electronic supplementary material

ESM 1

(DOC 80 kb)

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Liu, P., Ren, H., Xu, H. et al. Assessment of heavy metal characteristics and health risks associated with PM2.5 in Xi’an, the largest city in northwestern China. Air Qual Atmos Health 11, 1037–1047 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11869-018-0598-9

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11869-018-0598-9

Keywords

Search

Navigation