Sources of airborne particulate matter-bound metals and spatial-seasonal variability of health risk potentials in four large cities, South Korea

Abstract

Fifteen airborne particulate matter-bound metals were analyzed at 14 sites in four large cities (Seoul, Incheon, Busan, Daegu) in South Korea, between August 2013 and June 2017. Among the seven sources resolved by positive matrix factorization, soil dust and marine aerosol accounted for the largest and second largest portions in the three cities; however, in Seoul, soil dust and traffic occupied the largest and the second largest, respectively. Non-carcinogenic risk assessed by inhalation of eight metals (Cd, Co, Ni, Pb, As, Al, Mn, and V) was greater than the hazard index (HI) of 1 at four sites located at or near the industrial complexes. Cumulative incremental lifetime cancer risk (ILCR) due to exposure to five metals (Cd, Co, Ni, Pb, and As) exceeded the 10−6 cancer benchmark at 14 sites and 10−5 at six sites, which includes four sites with HI greater than 1. The largest contributor to ILCR was coal combustion in Seoul, Incheon, and Daegu, and industry sources in Busan. Moreover, industry sources were the largest contributors to non-carcinogenic risk in Seoul, Busan, and Daegu, and soil dust was in Incheon. Incheon had the highest HI in spring because of the higher contribution of soil dust sources than in other seasons. The higher ILCR in Incheon in spring and winter and higher ILCR and HI in Daegu in autumn were mainly due to the influence of industry or coal combustion sources. Statistically significant differences in the ILCR and HI values among the sampling sites in Busan and Daegu resulted from the higher contribution of industry sources at a certain site in the respective city.

Elemental Characterization of Ambient Particulate Matter for a Globally Distributed Monitoring Network: Methodology and Implications

“…The highest total CR of 7.7 × 10 −5 for adults (about 77 cancer cases per 1000000 adults) occurs in Dhaka followed by Kanpur and Hanoi. The CR caused only by As in Dhaka, Kanpur, and Hanoi exceeds the benchmark 38,39 of 1 × 10 −5 and is higher than the sum of CR caused by the remaining elements, suggesting a concerning level of atmospheric As at these sites. Estimates based on global simulation from Zhang et al 40 indicate similarly high CR caused by atmospheric As in several regions, including Asian countries such as India and Bangladesh.…”

The Effect of Maternal Exposure to Air Pollutants and Heavy Metals during Pregnancy on the Risk of Neurological Disorders Using the National Health Insurance Claims Data of South Korea

“…Generally, heavy metals are amalgamated with PM [ 8 ] and mainly originate from diesel and gasoline exhaust fumes from local traffic and industrial areas [ 9 , 10 ].…”

“…Some studies have shown that exposure to NO 2 , SO 2 , and PM2.5 is a risk factor for stillbirth and spontaneous abortion, supporting the notion that exposure to NO 2 , SO 2 , and PM2.5 can affect the fetus [ 20 , 21 ]. Regarding neurodevelopment, it is known that PM2.5 can induce oxidative stress and an inflammatory response [ 8 ] and that both oxidative stress and an inflammatory response can affect the expression of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and cyclic AMP response element-binding protein (CREB), which are well-known neurodevelopment factors [ 22 , 23 , 24 ]. Some studies have demonstrated that exposure to PM2.5 is related to changes in the expression of BDNF and CREB [ 25 , 26 , 27 ].…”

Exploring Sources and Health Risks in Beijing PM2.5 in 2019 and 2020

“…Understanding the health risks associated with the metal elements of PM 2.5 and clarifying their respective sources are crucial for developing cost-effective risk mitigation strategies to protect public health. The health effects of emission sources can be analyzed by linking source profiles obtained through receptor modeling to risk assessment model [15,16].…”