Characteristics, sources and health risks of PM2.5-bound potentially toxic elements in the northern rural China

Abstract The public health burden of PM 2.5 -bound potentially toxic elements (PTEs) was investigated at a rural region of North China in the spring and winter of 2016. The mean daily concentrations of PM 2.5 were 142.14 ± 65.98 μg m −3 and 218.36 ± 85.22 μg m −3 for spring and winter, respectively, which were 4.1 and 6.2 times greater than the limit value (35 μg m −3 ) set by the Ministry of Environmental Protection of China (CMEP). Among the studied PTEs, Zn, Pb and Mn were the dominant elements, followed by, Cr, Cu, Ni, Cd, and As. The concentrations of Cr in spring and winter and Cd in winter were much higher than the corresponding standards values. The results of the principal component analysis for the PM 2.5 -bound PTEs identified that coal combustion and soil/road dust as major sources in spring and winter, respectively. Exposure to Cr and Pb exhibited potential carcinogenic risks to children and adults. The values of non-carcinogenic risks posed by Cr (via ingestion), Pb and Mn (via inhalation), and Pb (via dermal exposure) for children as well as Mn via inhalation for adults exceeded the reference marker of 1.