An assessment of heavy metals contributed by industry in urban atmosphere from Nanjing, China.

Metals including major and trace elements were studied in total suspended particulates (TSP) in the atmosphere of Nanjing, China. The results demonstrated that heavy metal concentrations in TSP of the Nanjing atmosphere are higher distinctly in ambient environments of heavy industrial factory areas than the background concentration of the atmosphere. It is suggested that the heavy metals from these factory activities are at a concentration level of at least 20-65% respectively for studied metals (Fe, V, Cr, Ni, Mn, Ba, Cu, Pb, and Zn). The flux of metals generated by factory areas is about at 8.37 g/m(2).day for Fe, 11.45 microg/m(2).day for V, 25.99 microg/m(2).day for Cr, 27.02 microg/m(2).day for Ni, 84.08 microg/m(2).day for Ba, 222.63 microg/m(2).day for Pb, 2304.02 microg/m(2).day for Zn, and 3153.81 microg/m(2).day for Cu.