Using geoaccumulation index to study source profiles of soil dust in China.
Source apportionment studies of TSP (atmospheric particulate matter with aerodynamic diameters < or = 100 microm) and PM10 (atmospheric particulate matter with aerodynamic diameters < or = 10microm) have revealed that soil dust is an important source of these particulates in China. In this study, the contamination of soil dust was assessed through the use of a geoaccumulation index (I(geo)). The mass concentration profiles of 17 elements (Na, Mg, Al, K, Ca, Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Br, Ba, and Pb) were established for urban soil dusts. Geochemical compositions of soils from 15 cities were used to represent background urban soil compositions. The results of this study indicated that a number of cities are severely polluted by particulates containing Ca, Cr, Ni, and Cu in both size fractions (TSP and PM10). Contamination with Zn, Pb, Co, and Br was moderate to severe (I(geo) > 2). The Al and Fe concentrations were not high enough for them to be considered contaminants.
Ji
Yaqin
Y
State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Urban Ambient Air Particulate Matter Pollution Prevention and Control, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, China.
Feng
Yinchang
Y
Wu
Jianhui
J
Zhu
Tan
T
Bai
Zhipeng
Z
Duan
Chiqing
C
D000393:Air Pollutants / Q000032:analysis*; D002681:China; D004391:Dust / Q000032:analysis*; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods*; D010316:Particle Size; D052638:Particulate Matter / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry; D012987:Soil
D000393:Air Pollutants; D004391:Dust; D052638:Particulate Matter; D012987:Soil