Oxidative potential and water-soluble heavy metals of size-segregated airborne particles in haze and non-haze episodes: Impact of the Comprehensive Action Plan in China

Air pollution is a major environmental health challenge in megacities, and as such a Comprehensive Action Plan (CAP) was issued in 2017 for Beijing, the capital city of China. Here we investigated the size-segregated airborne particles collected after the implementation of the CAP, intending to understand the change of oxidative potential and water-soluble heavy metal (WSHM) levels in 'haze' and 'non-haze' days. The DNA damage and the levels of WSHM were analyzed by Plasmid Scission Assay (PSA) and High-Resolution Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (HR-ICPMS) techniques. The PM mass concentration was higher in the fine particle size (0.43-2.1 mu m) during haze days, except for the samples affected by mineral dust. The particle-induced DNA damage caused by fine sized particles (0.43-2.1 mu m) exceeded that caused by the coarse sized particles (4.7-10 mu m). The DNA damage from haze day particles significantly exceeded those collected on non-haze days. Prior to the instigation of the CAP, the highest value of DNA damage decreased, and DNA damage was seen in the finer size (0.43-1.1 mu m). The Pearson correlation coefficient between the concentrations of water-soluble Pb, Cr, Cd and Zn were positively correlated with DNA damage, suggesting that these WSHM had significant oxidative potential. The mass concentrations of water-soluble trace elements (WSTE) and individual heavy metals were enriched in the finer particles between 0.43 mu m to 1.1 mu m, implying that smaller sized particles posed higher health risks. In contrast, the significant reduction in the mass concentration of water-soluble Cd and Zn, and the decrease of the maximum- and average values of DNA damage after the CAP, demonstrated its effectiveness in restricting coal-burning emissions. These results have demonstrated that the Beijing CAP policy has been successful in reducing the toxicity of 'respirable' ambient particles.

Automated summary

The Comprehensive Action Plan (CAP) in Beijing has been successful in reducing the toxicity of ambient particles.