Concentrations of sixteen rare earth elements(REEs) in PM_(2.5) and potential-source samples, collected in Nanchang city in mid-September 2013, were determined by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry(ICP-MS). The results showed that the concentrations of total REEs(ΣREE) ranged from 78.76 to 1351 ng/mg. The order of REEs in PM_(2.5) samples showed the anthropogenic effects, Ce and Eu were affected more than the other REEs according to the enrichment factors. The results of chondrite-normalized REEs patterns and characteristic parameters showed evident light REEs fractionation, and positive anomalies of Ce and Eu in PM_(2.5). The other non-local pollution sources affected the PM_(2.5) samples, according to the triangular diagram of La, Ce and Sm compositions and plot of ΣREE vs δEu. Moreover, plot of(La/Sm)_N vs(Gd/Yb)_N revealed the effects of local sources. In conclusion, the REEs in potential-source samples were close to the background of local soil, while the REEs in PM_(2.5) samples in Nanchang city were jointly affected by the investigated local sources and other non-local sources.
