Heavy Metals in Atmospheric Particulate Matter: A Comprehensive Understanding Is Needed for Monitoring and Risk Mitigation

摘要

Urban atmospheric pollution is one of the most serious global environmental issues of the past decade. Atmospheric particulate matter (PM) is of great concern to the public and to government agencies because of the health effects and haze episodes associated with it. PM has the strong potential for adsorbing toxic metals, which may then enter the human body through inhalation and have adverse physiological effects. Exposure to PM has been linked to a wide range of diseases, including cardiovascular and respiratory diseases and lung cancer. There is growing evidence that heavy metals adsorbed to PM are crucial to the toxicity and adverse health effects of PM. Metal elements adsorbed to atmospheric PM can also be deposited to soils, water bodies, and plant leaves via wet and dry deposition.