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Concentration Levels, Pollution Characteristics and Potential Ecological Risk of Dust Heavy Metals in the Metropolitan Area of Beijing, China

Author

Listed:
  • Qiulin Xiong

    (Urban Environmental Process and Digital Modeling Laboratory, Capital Normal University, Beijing 100048, China)

  • Wenji Zhao

    (Urban Environmental Process and Digital Modeling Laboratory, Capital Normal University, Beijing 100048, China)

  • Jiayin Zhao

    (College of Environmental Sciences and Enginnering, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
    These authors contributed equally to this work.)

  • Wenhui Zhao

    (Beijing Municipal Environmental Monitoring Center, Beijing 100044, China
    These authors contributed equally to this work.)

  • Lei Jiang

    (Beijing Municipal Research Institute of Environmental Protection, Beijing 100037, China
    These authors contributed equally to this work.)

Abstract

This study aims to investigate the concentration levels, pollution characteristics and the associated potential ecological risks of the heavy metals found in dust in the metropolitan area of Beijing, China during the winter. Dust samples were collected at 49 different spatial locations of Beijing’s metropolitan area from November 2013 to January 2014, in which the concentration levels of Cd, Cr, Pb, Cu, Zn, Ni, Co, V, Bi and Mo were measured by Elan DRC II type inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). Test results showed that the concentrations of dust heavy metals Pb, Cr, Cu and Zn in the urban areas (147.1 mg·kg −1 , 195.9 mg·kg −1 , 239.2 mg·kg −1 and 713.2 mg·kg −1 ) were significantly higher than those in the suburbs (91.6 mg·kg −1 , 125.1 mg·kg −1 , 131.9 mg·kg −1 and 514.5 mg·kg −1 ). Enrichment factors and the geo-accumulation index were used to describe the pollution characteristics of dust heavy metals in urban and suburban areas. Results indicated that Zn and Cu were moderately polluting in both urban and suburban areas, Cd was severely polluting in urban areas and heavily polluting in the suburbs. Furthermore, potential ecological risk assessment revealed that the degrees of ecological harm of dust heavy metals were very strong in both urban and suburban areas, but especially in urban areas. The potential ecological risk of heavy metal Cd, whose single factor of ecological damage was extremely strong, accounted for about 90% of the total ecological risk.

Suggested Citation

  • Qiulin Xiong & Wenji Zhao & Jiayin Zhao & Wenhui Zhao & Lei Jiang, 2017. "Concentration Levels, Pollution Characteristics and Potential Ecological Risk of Dust Heavy Metals in the Metropolitan Area of Beijing, China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 14(10), pages 1-11, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:14:y:2017:i:10:p:1159-:d:113746
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Xingchuan Yang & Lei Jiang & Wenji Zhao & Qiulin Xiong & Wenhui Zhao & Xing Yan, 2018. "Comparison of Ground-Based PM 2.5 and PM 10 Concentrations in China, India, and the U.S," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(7), pages 1-16, July.
    2. Ewona I. Otaba & Uza Terso & Rabiu B. keen & Sunday O. Udo & Eka, B. Jeremiah & Moses A. Okono & Ukam, L. Edadi, 2024. "Assessment of the Pollution Indices of Particulate Matter Trapped in Classroom Ceiling Fans in a Tertiary Institution in Southern Nigeria," International Journal of Research and Scientific Innovation, International Journal of Research and Scientific Innovation (IJRSI), vol. 11(7), pages 1260-1275, July.

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