Elemental Composition of PM(2.5) and PM(10) and Health Risks Assessment in the Industrial Districts of Chelyabinsk, South Ural Region, Russia

Air pollution impacts all populations globally, indiscriminately and has site-specific variation and characteristics. Airborne particulate matter (PM) levels were monitored in a typical industrial Russian city, Chelyabinsk in three destinations, one characterized by high traffic volumes and two by industrial zone emissions. The mass concentration and trace metal content of PM(2.5) and PM(10) were obtained from samples collected during four distinct seasons of 2020. The mean 24-h PM(10) ranged between 6 and 64 μg/m(3). 24-h PM(2.5) levels were reported from 5 to 56 μg/m(3). About half of the 24-h PM(10) and most of the PM(2.5) values in Chelyabinsk were higher than the WHO recommendations. The mean PM(2.5)/PM(10) ratio was measured at 0.85, indicative of anthropogenic input. To evaluate the Al, Fe, As, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Mn, Ni, Pb, and Zn concentration in PM(2.5) and PM(10), inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) was used. Fe (337–732 ng/m(3)) was the most abundant component in PM(2.5) and PM(10) samples while Zn (77–206 ng/m(3)), Mn (10–96 ng/m(3)), and Pb (11–41 ng/m(3)) had the highest concentrations among trace elements. Total non-carcinogenic risks for children were found higher than 1, indicating possible health hazards. This study also presents that the carcinogenic risk for As, Cr, Co, Cd, Ni, and Pb were observed higher than the acceptable limit (1 × 10(−6)).