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PM10 fractions of urban aerosols were collected on quartz fiber filters in downtown Budapest and Wuhan applying high and low volume samplers, respectively. Following a microwave-assisted acidic extraction of aerosols in aqua regia at a temperature of 210°C and a pressure of 75 bars for 20 min, the concentrations of the extracted elements Ag, Bi, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Ga, Li, Mn, Mo, Ni, Pb, Pt, Rb, Sb, Sn, Sr, Te, Tl, U, V, and Zn were determined by an inductively coupled plasma sector field mass spectrometer. Considering the available health limit values (Cd 5, Cr 50, Pb 500, Ni 20 ng m-3), it was established that the concentrations of Cd, Ni, and Pb in the Chinese samples were in most cases above or near to the limit values during the 12 month long sampling period. In addition, the mass concentration of the PM10 fraction collected in Wuhan in all cases exceeded the daily health criteria guideline value (50 µg m-3) and it was about three times higher than in Budapest. From the health point of view, the situation in Budapest is better due to the lower concentration of toxic elements and carbon compounds in the air. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]