Control priority based on source-specific DALYs of PM 2.5 -bound heavy metals by PMF-PSCF-IsoSource model in urban and suburban Beijing.

To determine the priority control sources, an approach was proposed to evaluate the source-specific contribution to health risks from inhaling PM _2.5 -bound heavy metals (PBHMs). A total of 482 daily PM _2.5 samples were collected from urban and suburban areas of Beijing, China, between 2018 and 2019. In addition to the PMF-PSCF model, a Pb isotopic IsoSource model was built for more reliable source apportionment. By using the comprehensive indicator of disability-adjusted life years (DALYs), carcinogenic and noncarcinogenic health risks could be compared on a unified scale. The study found that the annual average concentrations of the total PBHMs were significantly higher in suburban areas than in urban areas, with significantly higher concentrations during the heating season than during the nonheating season. Comprehensive dust accounted for the largest contribution to the concentration of PBHMs, while coal combustion contributed the most to the DALYs associated with PBHMs. These results suggest that prioritizing the control of coal combustion could effectively reduce the disease burden associated with PBHMs, leading to notable public health benefits.
Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper.
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