ORIGINAL RESEARCH
Wet Deposition of Heavy Metals
in an Arid City
Yuyan Liu1, Cheng Liu1, Fangfang Tian1, Haofeng Liu2, Fengshan Shi1
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1Department of Chemistry and Applied Chemistry, Changji University, Changji 831100, P. R. China
2Changji Environmental Monitoring Station, Changji 831100, P.R. China
Submission date: 2014-11-24
Final revision date: 2015-01-02
Acceptance date: 2015-01-11
Publication date: 2015-05-20
Pol. J. Environ. Stud. 2015;24(3):1159-1164
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ABSTRACT
In order to investigate characteristics of wet deposition of heavy metals in an arid city, precipitation samples
were collected for 16 precipitation events in the arid city of Changji. A total of 16 samples were collected
and concentrations of principal heavy metals in the atmosphere were examined by inductively coupled plasma-
mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) to discuss levels, variation, and wet deposition fluxes of heavy metals.
Among these heavy metals in wet deposition, Fe, Zn, and Cu were found to be the highest. Levels of As, Ni,
and Cr ranked second, while Pb, Cd, and Hg were found to be the lowest. The concentrations of heavy metals
in wet deposition showed distinct seasonal variations, having high values in winter and low values in other
seasons. Besides, in general, concentrations of heavy metals in snow were higher than those in rain. Because
the winter was cold and long in Xinjiang, emissions from coal-fired heating were high, which was associated
with enhanced concentrations of heavy metals. The order of wet deposition fluxes of heavy metals in the whole
year was Fe > Cu, Zn > As, Ni, Cr, Pb > Cd, Hg. Compared to other areas, wet deposition fluxes of heavy metals
were low in Changji, which may be due to minimal rainfall in the arid city, having a weak scavenging effect
of atmospheric pollutants. In addition, because the level of urbanization and industrialization was not high in
Changji, emissions of atmospheric pollutants were low.