Abstract：Assessment of heavy metal pollution in atmospheric particulate matter in Hengyang in winter and spring was conducted respectively by potential ecological risk index and enrichment factor.The results show that an order of potential ecological risk index of heavy metals in atmospheric particulate matter is Cd>Cr> Pb> Cu> Ni, spring> winter, fine particles PM₂.₅>total suspended particles TSP, in which the potential ecological risk degree of Pb,Cd and Cr reached terribly strong. The enrichment degree of heavy metal elements is Cd> Cr> Pb>Cu> Ni, PM₂.₅>TSP. Winter is greater than spring in the enrichment degree of Pb,Cu and Cd. Winter is less than spring in the concentration degree of Cr and Ni. The EF of heavy metals is more than one. It indicates that the relative enrichment of the heavy metals in TSP and PM₂.₅are influenced by human activities.

Keywords: potential ecological risk index; enrichment factor; particulate matter; heavy metal