PM2.5 Associated Phenols, Phthalates, and Water Soluble Ions from Five Stationary Combustion Sources

Phenols and phthalates (PAEs) are always linked with the formation of secondary organic aerosols (SOA), while the water soluble ions (WSIs) are connected to the formation of secondary inorganic aerosols (SIA). A total of PM2.5 associated 20 phenols, 6 phthalates, and 9 WSIs were detected using GC-MS, ICS-1100, ICP-OES, and UV-VIS spectrophotometer for 5 stationary incineration sources including the domestic garbage (DG), garbage-fired power plant (GFPP), workshop of cable combustion for metal reclamation (WCC), peanut straw (PS), and wheat straw (WS). The anion equivalent (AE) and cation equivalent (CE) concentrations indicated that the emitted PM2.5 was alkaline for all the 5 combustion sources. Cl - possessed high contents among all the 5 burning sources and the highest value occurred at WCC due to the high Cl content in PVC. The WSI profiles were different from each other for the 5 incineration sources on the basis of high coefficients of divergence (CDs). The mass contributions of 9 WSIs in PM2.5 from 5 sources were far lower than those of atmospheric PM2.5. DEHP and DBP dominated in PM(2.5 )from 4 sources, while WCC possessed high levels of DEHP, DNOP, and DBP. WCC possessed the highest daily intakes of PAEs due to its highest Sigma 6PAEs of 32000 ng g(-1) resulted from the high usage of plasticizers in PVC. The PAE profile similarities were found for both GFPP vs. DG and PS vs. WS based on low CDs. Only 11 phenols were detected for the 5 sources and WCC possessed the highest level of phenols although only phenol was detected. WS had the high levels of phenols due to the using of phenolic pesticides during wheat growth process.