Source identification and potential ecological risk assessment of heavy metals in PM2.5 from Changsha

The probable sources and potential ecological risks of Cu, Zn, Cd and Pb in PM2.5 in Changsha were analyzed. The intelligent medium-flow total suspended particle sampler was used to collect the PM2.5 samples from Yuelu (YL), Kaifu (KF), and Yuhua (YH) districts of Changsha in March–April of 2013. The total concentration of heavy metals (HMs) in PM2.5 was used for source identification by correlation coefficients and principal component analysis (PCA). Otherwise the potential ecological risks indices (RIs) were calculated based on the bioavailable fractions of HMs which were obtained through BCR sequential extraction. Almost 50% of Cu, Cd and Pb in PM2.5 of all sites were accumulated in soluble and reducible fractions by speciation analysis. The correlation coefficients and PCA analysis showed that HMs in PM2.5 of Changsha in spring were mainly from vehicular emissions, fuel combustion, resuspension of dust and other pollution sources. The average potential ecological RIs of HMs in PM2.5 of Changsha were 6193.80 which suggests that HMs in PM2.5 was extremely serious. These results would be a good reference for health studies and formulation of environmental regulations. •PM2.5 sampling was conducted at three different function areas of Changsha.•Concentrations of PM2.5 and heavy metals in PM2.5 were measured.•Source identification showed that heavy metals are from anthropogenic sources.•The potential ecological risk of heavy metals in Changsha was relatively high.