title: Source of atmospheric heavy metals in winter in Foshan, China.
abstract: Foshan is a ceramics manufacturing center in the world and the most polluted city in the Pearl River Delta (PRD) in southern China measured by the levels of atmospheric heavy metals. PM2.5 samples were collected in Foshan in winter 2008. Among the 22 elements and ions analyzed, 7 heavy metals (Zn, V, Mn, Cu, As, Cd and Pb) were studied in depth for their levels, spatiotemporal variations and sources. The ambient concentrations of the heavy metals were much higher than the reported average concentrations in China. The levels of Pb (675.7 ± 378.5 ng/m(3)), As (76.6 ± 49.1 ng/m(3)) and Cd (42.6 ± 45.2 ng/m(3)) exceeded the reference values of NAAQS (GB3095-2012) and the health guidelines of the World Health Organization. Generally, the levels of atmospheric heavy metals showed spatial distribution as: downtown site (CC, Chancheng District)>urban sites (NH and SD, Nanhai and Shunde Districts)>rural site (SS, Shanshui District). Two sources of heavy metals, the ceramic and aluminum industries, were identified during the sampling period. The large number of ceramic manufactures was responsible for the high levels of atmospheric Zn, Pb and As in Chancheng District. Transport from an aluminum industry park under light north-west winds contributed high levels of Cd to the SS site (Shanshui District). The average concentration of Cd under north-west wind was 220 ng/m(3), 20.5 times higher than those under other wind directions. The high daily maximum enrichment factors (EFs) of Cd, Pb, Zn, As and Cu at all four sites indicated extremely high contamination by local emissions. Back trajectory analysis showed that the heavy metals were also closely associated with the pathway of air mass. A positive matrix factorization (PMF) method was applied to determine the source apportionment of these heavy metals. Five factors (industry including the ceramic industry and coal combustion, vehicle emissions, dust, transportation and sea salt) were identified and industry was the most important source of atmospheric heavy metals. The present paper suggests a control policy on the four heavy metals Cd, Pb, Zn, and Cu, and suggests the inclusion of As in the ceramic industry emission standard in the future.
authors.affiliation: College of Resource and Environment, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China; State Key Joint Laboratory of Environmental Simulation and Pollution Control, School of Environment, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China.
authors.forename: Ji-Hua
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Tan
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Environmental Criteria and Risk Assessment, Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, Beijing 100012, China. Electronic address: djc74@163.com.
authors.forename: Jing-Chun
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Duan
authors.affiliation: State Key Joint Laboratory of Environmental Simulation and Pollution Control, School of Environment, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China.
authors.forename: Yong-Liang
authors.initials: YL
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.affiliation: College of Resource and Environment, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China.
authors.forename: Fu-Mo
authors.initials: FM
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: State Key Joint Laboratory of Environmental Simulation and Pollution Control, School of Environment, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China.
authors.forename: Yuan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Cheng
authors.affiliation: State Key Joint Laboratory of Environmental Simulation and Pollution Control, School of Environment, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China.
authors.forename: Ke-Bin
authors.initials: KB
authors.lastname: He
authors.affiliation: Foshan Environmental Protection Bureau, Foshan 528000, China.
authors.forename: Yong-Chang
authors.initials: YC
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.affiliation: Foshan Environmental Protection Bureau, Foshan 528000, China.
authors.forename: Jie-Wen
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D000393:Air Pollutants / Q000032:analysis*; D001272:Atmosphere / Q000737:chemistry*; D002681:China; D002947:Cities; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D019216:Metals, Heavy / Q000032:analysis*; D052638:Particulate Matter / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D000393:Air Pollutants; D019216:Metals, Heavy; D052638:Particulate Matter
keywords: Chemical composition; Control policy; Foshan; PM(2.5); PMF