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Dynamic landscape of multi-elements in PM2.5 revealed by real-time analysis
Xiaomeng Ji1, Ruiliang Qin2, Chunzhen Shi3
1State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China; Shandong Key Laboratory of Environmental Processes and Health, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Shandong University, Qingdao 266237, China.
An online method accurately measures multiple metals in fine particulate matter (PM2.5) in real-time. This approach reveals how metal concentrations, especially toxic ones, change throughout the day, aiding health risk assessments.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Science
- Analytical Chemistry
- Atmospheric Chemistry
Background:
- Metal components in fine particulate matter (PM2.5) are linked to adverse health effects.
- Understanding the dynamic, temporal variations of metals in PM2.5 is crucial for accurate health risk assessment.
Purpose of the Study:
- To establish an online method for real-time determination of multi-elements in PM2.5.
- To develop and validate a quantified online measurement method for metals in PM2.5.
Main Methods:
- Directly introducing air samples into inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) for multi-element analysis.
- Utilizing metal standard aerosols for quantification and achieving high time resolution (3.3 min) online measurements.
- Measuring real-time multi-element contents in PM2.5 over 12 hours for 33 days across varying air qualities.
Main Results:
- Achieved limits of detection between 0.001-6.30 ng/m³ for various metals.
- Observed temporal variations: crustal elements (Fe, Mg) mirrored PM2.5 trends, while toxic elements (Pb, As, Cd) showed increases at dusk.
- Demonstrated associations between metal variations, emission sources, and differing exposure concentrations.
Conclusions:
- The developed online ICP-MS method enables real-time monitoring of multi-elements in PM2.5.
- Real-time data provides critical insights into temporal exposure risks of metals in PM2.5.
- This method enhances atmospheric monitoring and supports public health risk assessments.
