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Source apportionment and health effects of particle-bound metals in PM2.5 near a precision metal machining factory

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Abstract

Exposure to particle-bound metals in oil mist and fine particulate matter (PM2.5) may exert harmful health effects. Oil mist and PM samples were collected from metal machining workplaces and areas surrounding a precision machining factory using a multistage impactor. Metal-containing particles were analyzed through inductively coupled plasma − optical emission spectrometry. Mean mass concentrations in PM2.5 were 22.8 ± 8.2 μg/m3 near the precision machinery factory. The average PM2.5 constituted 62.8% ± 6.2% of the total particles, ranging from 49.6 to 71.0%. The most abundant metal elements in PM2.5 were Fe (293.33 ± 123.16 ng/m3), Zn (292.39 ± 62.49 ng/m3), and Al (115.28 ± 38.81 ng/m3) near the precision machining factory. The three most abundant metal elements are similar to those found in a solvent/water-based cutting oil of metal processing workplace, indicating that observations were influenced by workplace emissions. The total cancer risk of six particle-bound heavy metals (Cr(VI), Co, Ni, As, Cd, and Pb) in PM2.5 via inhalation exposure at the human respiratory systems of residents living near the precision metal machining factory exceeds 10–6. Source contributions of related metal machining processes were carbon steel/stainless steel machining emissions (17.20 ± 4.94%) and aluminum alloys/gasoline engine exhaust (27.65 ± 3.90%) using absolute principal component score receptor model in the surrounding atmosphere of the precision machining factory.

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Source contributions (% of calculated mass ± SD) to particle-bound metals in PM2.5 using APCS in the surrounding area

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Funding

The author would like to thank the Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST) in Taiwan for the financial support under the Grant No. MOST 107-2221-E-166-001.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biotechnology, National Formosa University, Yunlin, 632301, Taiwan

    Chia-Hua Lin & Chia-Hsiang Lai

  2. Institute of Safety Health and Environmental Engineering, Central Taiwan University of Science and Technology, Taichung, 406, Taiwan

    Tsang-Hsien Hsieh & Cheng-Yun Tsai

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  1. Chia-Hua Lin
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Contributions

The first author (Professor C.H. Lin) planed the research program and summarized data. The corresponding author (Professor C.H. Lai) was a major contributor in writing the manuscript. T.H. Hsieh and C.Y. Tsai carried out the sampling and analysis works. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

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Correspondence to Chia-Hsiang Lai.

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Lin, CH., Lai, CH., Hsieh, TH. et al. Source apportionment and health effects of particle-bound metals in PM2.5 near a precision metal machining factory. Air Qual Atmos Health 15, 605–617 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11869-021-01147-y

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