Chemical Features of Atmospheric Particulate Matter in Longmen Grottoes

Abstract

In recent years, the pollution of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) has been increasing in China. Particularly in the northern heating season, dust-haze has been very serious. Air pollution has a wide range of influence, which not only poses a hazard to human health, but also has a negative impact on the landscape of the scenic spot. This paper, by selecting the scenic spot- Longmen Grottoes as the object of research, applies the whole- sample analysis technique to determine the concentration of PM2.5 in the scenic spot. Then it analyses water- soluble ions, carbonaceous substances, and heavy metal elements one by one. Finally, it’s concluded that: (1) The concentration of PM2.5 in the Longmen Grottoes area exceeds the limit, esp., in winter, which may be related to coal burning; (2) The calculation of the cation-anion balance shows that the atmospheric PM2.5 in the scenic spot is acidic, acidifying the precipitation, and causing corrosion and damage to the grottoes surface; (3) The linear correlation of OC (organic carbon) and EC (elemental carbon) concentrations in the atmospheric PM2.5 of the scenic spot is relatively high, indicating that their sources of pollution are the same;(4) Zn, Pb, and Cr in the atmospheric PM2.5 components are the main heavy metal elements.