Pollution Level and Major Constituents Distribution Characteristics of PM_2.5 in Pudong New Area, Shanghai

Objective  To understand the pollution level of PM_2.5 and characteristics of its major constituents in Pudong New Area, Shanghai.

Method  PM_2.5 samples (n=409) of five monitoring sites in Pudong New Area of Shanghai were collected between September 2014 and August 2015. The mass concentrations of PM_2.5, 15 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), and 21 heavy metals were measured.

Result  The daily average mass concentration of PM_2.5 was 80.98 μg/m³, and 44.3% samples exceeded relevant limits, with a maximum excess multiple of 3.5. The selected 15 PAHs were detected in all PM_2.5 samples, and the average mass concentration of Σ15PAHs was (9.694±10.012)ng/m³; specifically, the highest PAH concentration was found for benzog, h, ipyrene (1.836 ng/m³), whereas the lowest was for anthracene (0.046 ng/m³). The average mass concentration of 21 heavy metals was 1 540.397 ng/m³, the highest concentration was found for iron (671.0 ng/m³), and the lowest was for beryllium (0.035 ng/m³). PM_2.5 and its constituents showed significant seasonal variations (P<0.01), namely winter-spring higher than summer-autumn, but non-significant results between different monitoring sites (P >0.05).

Conclusion  A high PM_2.5 pollution level is identified in Pudong New Area of Shanghai. PM_2.5, PAHs, and heavy metals show seasonal variations, but no spatial variation.