Source profile and health risk assessment of PM2.5 from coal-fired power plants in Fuxin, China

In order to improve and establish the localized source profile of PM2.5 in Fuxin, the ashes under dust catcher were collected from four typical coal-fired power plants in Fuxin and twenty-eight components were measured. The source profile of PM2.5 in the soot of the four coal-fired power plants was established. SO42− was the most abundant component in the PM2.5 of the soot of the four coal-fired power plants, followed by Ca2+ and organic carbon (OC). The content of element components in PM2.5 smoke ranges from 5.06 to 10.97%, the content of ionic components ranges from 36.53 to 48.59%, and the total carbon content ranges from 9.43 to 11.36%. The divergence coefficient of PM2.5 source profile in Fuxin coal burning smoke is mostly similar to that of Fushun, whereas the divergence coefficient of Colorado reaches 0.65, indicating that Fuxin coal burning power plant smoke has no similarity to Colorado. The order of the geological accumulation index of Ni, Cu, V, Mn, and Cr was Cr (4.58) > Mn (4.42) > V (4.38) > Cu (4.09) > Ni (4.06), showing a heavy pollution level. The health risk assessment model recommended by the USEPA was used to assess the health risk of heavy metals in soot of coal-fired power plants, and the non-carcinogenic risk values of As for children and adults were 45.7 and 4.90, respectively. The carcinogenic risk values of Cr for adults and children were the highest, with values of 3.66 × 10−5 and 2.06 × 10−5, respectively, followed by As.