ZHANG Yunfeng1,2,3, YU Ruilian1, HU Gongren1, SUN Jingwei1,2,3, ZHANG Zongwei1
（1. Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, Huaqiao University, Xiamen 361021, China;
2. School of Resources and Environmental Science, Quanzhou Normal University, Quanzhou 362000, China;
3. Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Ecology-Toxicological Effects & Control for Emerging Contaminants, Putian 351100, China）
Abstract: A total of 136 PM2.5 samples were collected from five sampling sites in Quanzhou from March 2014 to January 2015, and contents of 11 toxic trace metals (Zn, Cu, Pb, As, Ni, Cd, Co, Ba, Cr, Be, and V) in these samples were determined by the Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS) method. The chemical forms of these trace metals in the atmospheric PM2.5 were analysed using the single-stage acid extraction method and the bioavailabilities of trace metals were calculated on the basis of the ratio of the acid extractable content to the total content, then the human health risk of toxic trace metals in atmospheric PM2.5 of Quanzhou was evaluated according to the Human Health Risk Assessment model recommended by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The results indicated that: (i) the toxic trace metals' bioavailability falls in the descending order of Zn> Cu > Pb > As ≈ Ni > Cd > Co≈ Ba> Cr > Be > V; (ii) Ni, As, Cd, Zn, Cu and Pb in atmospheric PM2.5 are bioavailable and can migrate and transform easily in environmental media, while Be, Cr, Co, V and Ba are potential bioavailable elements that remain stable in the atmospheric environment, but can be released if atmospheric condition changes; (iii) the toxic trace metals in atmospheric PM2.5 of Quanzhou endanger human health mainly through nasal and oral inhalation. Among these monitored toxic trace metals, Cr, Co, and As pose potential carcinogenic risks while Ni and As pose potential non-carcinogenic risks to the urban residents of Quanzhou.
Key words: Quanzhou city; PM2.5; toxic trace metals; bioavailability; human health evaluation
EARTH AND ENVIRONMENT Vol.46, No.5, Tot No.325, 2018, Page 456-462
