Chemical fractionation of particulate-bound metal(loid)s to evaluate their bioavailability, sources and associated cancer risk in India

Eleven potentially toxic metal(loid)s (Al, As, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb, and Zn), proven source markers of mineral based coal-fired industrial emissions and vehicular exhausts, were analysed using the four steps sequential extraction method to evaluate metal(loid)s concentration, in total and fractions of bioavailable and non-bioavailable for fine (PM2.5) and coarse (PM10–2.5) particulate modes. A total of 26-day-wise samples with three replications (total number of samples = 78) were collected in January–December 2019 for each PM10 and PM2.5 at an urban-residential site in India. In both the coarse and fine particulate modes, Pb and Cr have respectively shown the highest and lowest total concentrations of the measured metal(loid)s, indicating the presence of coal-fired power plants and heavy vehicular activities near to study area. In addition, Mn has shown highest bioavailable fraction for both coarse and fine particulate modes. More than 50 % of metal(loid)s concentration, in total to a bioavailable fraction (BAF) were observed in case of As, Cd, Cr, Co, Mn, Ni, and Pb of PM2.5. Mn and Zn have shown similar behaviour in the case of coarse particulate mode. Source apportionment of metal(loid)s bioavailable fractions using positive matrix factorization (PMF 5.0) has found three significant sources: crustal and natural dust (30.04 and 39 %), road traffic (49.57 and 20 %), and industrial emission (20.39 and 41 %) for coarse and fine particulate mode, respectively. Cancer risk through the inhalation pathway was high in total concentration but lower in BAF concentration in both age groups (children and adults). [Display omitted] •Chemical fractionation of 11 metal(loid)s in Indian ambient fine and coarse particulates•PM2.5 metal(loid)s bioavailable fractions are 2.4-fold higher than those for coarse mode.•Mn has shown highest bioavailable fraction in both fine and coarse particulate mode.•Source apportionment of fine and coarse particulate metal(loid)s bioavailable fractions•Bioavailable index, contamination factors and Carcinogenic risks were estimated.