Chemical characteristics and human health assessment of PM1 during the Chinese Spring Festival in Changchun, Northeast China

Özet

To understand the impact of buring firework (FW) particles on air quality and human health during Spring Festival (SF), 15 elements, 10 water-soluble ions and 8 fractions of carbonaceous species in atmospheric particulate matter (PM1, aerodynamic diameter 5, indicating extreme contamination. WSIIs account for 50.81% of PM1, and the values were lower in the pre-SF period and higher post-SF. The concentrations of − NO3 and − SO4 2 were the two highest with constant ratios over the whole period, indicating the consumption of coal and gasoline. The K+ value can reflect the fireworks emissions. Besides elements and WSIIs, carbon species account for 28.48% of PM1 on average. A higher ratio between OC and EC revealed a small percentage of vehicles and a high contribution of coal and biomass consumption. Elements can affect the body via three routes: oral, respiratory, and dermal. According to average daily dose (ADD) calculations, ADD values of the ingestion pathway were two or four times greater than those of the other two routes. Moreover, the exposure of all three pathways in children was greater than in adults. The excess cancer risk (ECR) of Pb, Ni, As, Cd, and Cr was beyond the safety limit (10−6 to 10−4), indicating cancer risk in both adults and children. This study provides detailed composition data and the first report on FW particles during the SF period and their potential impact on human health in Changchun city.