Source apportionment and spatial distribution of heavy metals in atmospheric settled dust of Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia

Atmospheric settled dust study was conducted with the purpose of to determine the source of heavy metal elements (As, Co, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb, and Zn) in airborne dust from Ulaanbaatar using the multivariate analysis and spatial distribution mapping by geographic information system (GIS) with the systematic grid. A total of 57 dust samples were collected from the impervious surfaces at 2-4 m above the ground in January of 2020. The mean concentrations of heavy metals were increasing order of Co-10.4 +/- 1.3 mg/kg > As-16.5 +/- 5.9 mg/kg > Ni-21.3 +/- 3.3 mg/kg > Pb-51.7 +/- 26.4 mg/kg > Cu-65.5 +/- 23.6 mg/kg > Cr-70.2 +/- 18.7 mg/kg > Zn-571.3 +/- 422.8 mg/kg. In terms of multivariate analysis, we used Pearson's correlation, principal component analysis (PCA), and hierarchical cluster analysis (CA). Three principal components, which are eigenvalues higher than 1, were determined accounting for 70.5% of the total variance by PCA. As a result, PC1 38.5% (As, Cr, Cu, and Ni), PC2 17.3% (Pb and Zn), and PC3 14.7% (Co and Pb) are attributable to coal combustion, vehicle exhaust emission, and resuspension of soil particles, respectively. The results of correlation analysis and CA were fairly in agreement with PCA. The spatial distribution maps of heavy metals were revealed in the downtown in which 40 covered sampling sites with about 700m intervals. In the spatial distribution mappings, generally, the southern part of the mapping area was higher concentrations of heavy metals. An increment of heavy metals concentration was presented for As, Cr, Co, and Ni with their similar trend in the southwestern part of the mapping. Besides, another trend for the distribution of the high concentrations of Cu and Zn was observed in the south and southeast parts. In terms of Pb, it had no noticeable pattern of distribution; however, a high spot was presented in the southwest part of the map.

Automated summary

The study on atmospheric settled dust in Ulaanbaatar found various heavy metal elements, with higher concentrations in the southern part of the city. The distribution of heavy metals shows certain patterns in terms of sources and locations.