Exposure to PM2.5 and PAHs from the Tong Liang, China epidemiological study.
Chemically speciated PM2.5 and particle-bound polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) measurements were made at three sites near urban Tong Liang, Chongqing, a Chinese inland city where coal combustion is used for electricity generation and residential purposes outside of the central city. Ambient sampling was based on 72-hr averages between 3/2/2002 and 2/26/2003. Elevated PM2.5 and PAH concentrations were observed at all three sites, with the highest concentrations found in winter and the lowest in summer. This reflects a coupling effect of source variability and meteorological conditions. The PM2.5 mass estimated from sulfate, nitrate, ammonium, organics, elemental carbon, crustal material, and salt corresponded with the annual average gravimetric mass within +/-10%. Carbonaceous aerosol was the dominant species, while positive correlations between organic carbon and trace elements (e.g., As, Se, Br, Pb, and Zn) were consistent with coal-burning and motor vehicle contributions. Ambient particle-bound PAHs of molecular weight 168-266 were enriched by 1.5 to 3.5 times during the coal-fired power plant operational period. However, further investigation is needed to determine the relative contribution from residential and utility coal combustion and vehicular activities.
Chow
Judith C
JC
Division of Atmospheric Sciences, Desert Research Institute, 2215 Raggio Parkway, Reno, NV, 89512, USA. and Aerosol and Environmental Division, Institute of Earth Environment, Chinese Academy of Science, Xian, China [corrected] judy.chow@dri.edu
Watson
John G
JG
Chen
Lung-Wen Antony
LW
Ho
Steven Sai Hang
SS
Koracin
Darko
D
Zielinska
Barbara
B
Tang
Deliang
D
Perera
Frederica
F
Cao
Junji
J
Lee
S C
SC
D000393:Air Pollutants / Q000032:analysis*; D002681:China; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D010316:Particle Size; D011084:Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons / Q000032:analysis*; D011210:Power Plants; D011891:Rain; D012621:Seasons
D000393:Air Pollutants; D011084:Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons