Size Distribution and Source Apportionment of Trace Metal Elements in the Atmospheric Aerosols in a Coastal City, Northern China

Ziyan Xi; Jianhua Qi; Yuanzhe Ni; Zengjie Zuo; Xuehui Lin

doi:10.53941/ges.2026.100011

Highlights

Metals from crustal, anthropogenic and mixed source exhibited distinct size distributions
Crustal and mixed-source metals exhibit greater seasonal variability in size distributions than anthropogenic metals
Dust had the greatest impact on the metal particle size distribution
Primary sources contributions for PM varied with particle size, season and weather conditions

Abstract

Size-resolved aerosol samples of trace elements (TEs) were measured in a Chinese coastal city, from May 2015 to April 2016. Based on enrichment factors and positive matrix factorization (PMF), TEs were grouped into crustal (Al, Ba, Fe, Na, Ti, Co, Sc), anthropogenic (Zn, Pb, Cd), and mixed-source elements (K, Mn, Li, Cr, Cu). Crustal elements generally dominated the coarse mode (3.3–4.7 μm), with a notable shift toward larger particles (4.4–7.0 μm) in winter. Na exhibited seasonal distributions: tri-modal in summer (0.65–1.1, 3.3–4.7, and 7.0–11 μm), broad unimodal in spring (2.1–7.0 μm), and bimodal patterns in fall (2.1–3.3 and >11 μm) and winter (3.3–4.7 and 7.0–11 μm). Anthropogenic metals (Pb and Cd) generally peaked at 0.43–0.65 μm, with the peak shifting to 0.65–1.1 μm in summer. Mixed-source elements (K, Mn, Li) maintained a stable bimodal distribution (0.43–0.65 μm, 3.3–4.7 μm) across seasons. Dust events shifted peak positions and elevated overall loadings, while haze-fog (HF) conditions predominantly enhanced TEs concentrations in the fine mode. Chemical Mass Balance (CMB) model identified primary sources for PM_1.1, PM_2.1, PM_2.1–10 and PM₁₀, including industrial processes, construction dust, coal-fired plants, biomass burning, dust, shipping, road traffic, sea salt, and other unidentified sources, with contributions varying with particle size, season and weather conditions. Our results demonstrated that TEs size distribution were shaped by the combined effects of source and meteorology, and that derived log-normal parameterizations provided size-resolved constraints for aerosol transport, deposition, and health risk assessments.

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