Seasonal Variation and Quality Assessment of the Major and Trace Elements of Atmospheric Dust in a Typical Karst City, Southwest China

Abstract

Atmospheric dust plays an important role in bio-geochemical cycling and the ecological environment. In urban areas, atmospheric dust is more likely to be the carrier of pollutants, thus affecting the air quality of cities. In this study, samples of atmospheric dust were collected monthly for one year in Guiyang City, and the contents of major and trace elements in the dust were determined. The results showed that the major and trace elements in the atmospheric dust of Guiyang city vary with the seasons. The concentrations of trace elements in the dust of autumn and winter were significantly higher than those in spring and summer. Most of the major elements in dust were higher than those in the corresponding topsoil, while most trace elements were similar to those in the topsoil except for Pb. The enrichment factor (EF) values calculated by topsoil as background showed that the Ca and Pb have higher EF values than the rest elements, indicating that some dust may be contaminated by Ca and Pb. The high content of Ca in the dust might be derived from concrete buildings in urban areas, while Pb might be closely related to motor vehicle emissions. The relationship between La and Yb of the atmospheric dust showed that the dust in Guiyang have the same pattern as those of Libo, it also revealed that these dust probably come mainly from natural sources and are less affected by human activities.