title: Highly time- and size-resolved fingerprint analysis and risk assessment of airborne elements in a megacity in the Yangtze River Delta, China.
abstract: The frequent haze episodes in the Yangtze River Delta (YRD) of China have been of great public concern due to the high risks to human health. Therefore, a better understanding of the sources and characteristics of particulate matters (PM) and associated elements is crucial and urgent for haze controlling. In this study, air particulates were collected from six different functional areas in a megacity of the YRD, China in early winter of 2012. Highly time- and size-resolved analysis of PM-elements was conducted to trace their sources. Our results showed that the main donors to particulate elements were crustal dust, followed by traffic and industrial influences due to the mixed residential, commercial and industrial zones at most sites. Anthropogenesis contributed more to the sources of finer particles and associated elements than those of coarser ones. Besides the local emission sources, meteorological conditions also affected the distribution patterns of ambient elements. Furthermore, the risks of hazard metals in PM2.5 and PM1.0 to human health were estimated. The highest non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic risks were observed at urban living quarter (ULQ) and eco-industrial park (EIP), respectively. In addition, the general risks at rural living quarters (RLQ) were the lowest. Results from this study may provide valuable information for air pollution control and management in the YRD, China.
authors: International Joint Research Center for Persistent Toxic Substances (IJRC-PTS), MOE Key Laboratory of Environmental Remediation and Ecosystem Health, College of Environmental and Resource Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China.
authors: Lili
authors: L
authors: Niu
authors: State Key Laboratory of Modern Optical Instrument, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China.
authors: Huajun
authors: H
authors: Ye
authors: IJRC-PTS, College of Biological and Environmental Engineering, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou 310032, China.
authors: Chao
authors: C
authors: Xu
authors: International Joint Research Center for Persistent Toxic Substances (IJRC-PTS), MOE Key Laboratory of Environmental Remediation and Ecosystem Health, College of Environmental and Resource Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China.
authors: Yijun
authors: Y
authors: Yao
authors: International Joint Research Center for Persistent Toxic Substances (IJRC-PTS), MOE Key Laboratory of Environmental Remediation and Ecosystem Health, College of Environmental and Resource Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China. Electronic address: wliu@zju.edu.cn.
authors: Weiping
authors: W
authors: Liu
mesh_terms: D000393:Air Pollutants / Q000032:analysis*; D002681:China; D002947:Cities; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D008670:Metals / Q000032:analysis*; D010316:Particle Size; D052638:Particulate Matter / Q000032:analysis*; D018570:Risk Assessment; D045483:Rivers
chemical_list: D000393:Air Pollutants; D008670:Metals; D052638:Particulate Matter
keywords: Health risk; Hourly variation; Meteorological condition; Particulate element; Size distribution; Source identification