Heavy metal-polluted aerosols collected at a rural site, Northwest China

Abstract

Daily samples of aerosol (n=27) were collected from September 21st to October 4th, 2013 in Fukang (44.17°N, 88.45°E, 475 m a.s.l.), Xinjiang, Northwest China. The enrichment factors (EFc) of selected 49 elements showed that the aerosols had extremely high concentrations of heavy metals, probably indicating their anthropogenic origins. Morphology of individual aerosol particles was determined by scanning electron microscopy and energy-dispersive X-ray microanalysis. Based on morphology and elemental composition, the particles were clustered into three dominant types: (I) crustal originated particles: Si/Al-rich particles (36%) and Si/Fe-rich particles (24%); (II) mixed source particles; and (III) pollution derived particles: Pb-rich particles (10%). The backward trajectories were calculated using the HYSPLIT model, and the results indicated the different anthropogenic sources for heavy metals in Fukang aerosols. Air mass from north was identified as the most polluted source when compared to south and west.

Keywords

heavy metal pollution / aerosols / Central Asia

References

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