Health risk assessment of heavy metal(loid)s in PM2.5 in two cities in Jilin Province, China, 2016–2020

• Published in: Urban climate 2022-12, Vol.46, p.101318, Article 101318
• Main Authors: Pan, Yang, Wu, Haidi, Zhao, Tianyang, Yang, Liwei, Wei, Lanbo, He, Yinghua, Su, Haitao, Zhang, Yunjian, Cui, Xianshu, Song, Lijun, Ma, Yanjun, Li, Changsheng, Zhou, Liting, Ye, Lin
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Air pollution prevention; Carcinogenic risk; Heavy metal; PM2.5
• ISSN: 2212-0955; 2212-0955
• DOI: 10.1016/j.uclim.2022.101318

The toxicity of particulate matter is related to its size and chemical composition. We determined 12 heavy metal(loid)s in atmospheric PM2.5 in two representative cities (Changchun and Yanji) of Jilin Province, China, over five consecutive years, 2016–2020, and assessed their inhalation risk to humans. In general, we found As and Cr to be the major carcinogens present, which pose a high carcinogenic risk (CR) to children. The CR of As was higher in Changchun (2.0 × 10−6 for children, 8.0 × 10−6 for adults) than in Yanji (1.3 × 10−6 for children, 5.0 × 10−6 for adults), while the CR of Cr was higher in Yanji (3.5 × 10−6 for children, 1.2 × 10−5 for adults) than in Changchun (2.7 × 10−6 for children, 9.1 × 10−6 for adults). Point estimates of non-carcinogenic risk of heavy metal(loid)s were low (hazard index