Trace Metal Concentrations and Water Solubility in Size-Fractionated Atmospheric Particles and Influence of Road Traffic

Abstract

The abundance and the behavior of metals (Al, Ti, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Se, Ag, Cd, Sn, Ba, Pt, Hg, and Pb) and ions (Na+ K+ Mg2+ Ca2+, NH4+, Cl-, NO3-, SO4(2-), PO4(3-), and oxalate) in size-fractionated atmospheric particulate matter (PM) were studied in the U. K. and Ireland at four observation sites simulating extreme degrees of vehicular-traffic influence in the environment. Trace metals in urban PM showed distinct types of size-fractionated behavior depending on the particle sources from which they originate. In coarse PM (1.5 < Dp < 3.0 microm) the concentrations of copper, barium, and iron correlated closely across over 2 orders of magnitude in urban air, which is seen as evidence that major portions of transition metals (Cu, Ba, Fe, and Mn) are released through abrasive vehicular emissions, particularly the wear of brake linings. Further results are strongly indicative of a decoupling of coarse iron and calcium, the former arising predominantly from vehicles, the latter from soil resuspension. In fine PM (Dp < 0.5 microm), several combustion and secondary sources of particulates were identified, but these were much less unique in terms of elemental fingerprints. An analysis of the water solubility of trace metals yielded that solubility varies considerably with element and, to a lesser extent, with particle size. Notable differences were found to the elemental water solubilities determined in previous work, partially explained by differences in extraction procedures.

Potential health risk for residents around a typical e-waste recycling zone via inhalation of size-fractionated particle-bound heavy metals

“…In general, the water soluble fractions of metals are smaller than those obtained from PBET, because the weak acids (lactic acid or acetic acid) used to mimic the physiological condition in the PBET [43] may liberate metals from the particle phase. In a best-controlled scenario, even if the water soluble fractions of five carcinogenic metals in all size fractions in the present study were assumed to be 10% [28], the total ILCR for children was still higher than the acceptable cancer risk threshold of 10 −6 .…”

“…Enrichment factor (EF) has been used to diagnose airborne particle-bound heavy metals from the crustal or anthropogenic origins [18,28], i.e.,…”

“…The bioavailable and bioaccessiable fractions of particle-bound metals can be derived from weak extraction with water [28] and in-vitro physiologically based extraction test (PBET) [42], respectively. In general, the water soluble fractions of metals are smaller than those obtained from PBET, because the weak acids (lactic acid or acetic acid) used to mimic the physiological condition in the PBET [43] may liberate metals from the particle phase.…”

Contamination at Todos os Santos Bay

“…8 Vários estudos apontam que a fração de tamanho de partícula e a sua composição química como dois importantes aspectos a serem considerados, muito associados a uma grande variedade de efeitos adversos para a saúde humana. [9][10][11] Enquanto a composição química do MPA pode variar de um lugar para outro, as fontes de material particulado são numerosas e diversas para uma dada região em estudo, podendo estas ser biogênicas (principalmente emissão de partículas por vegetais, ressuspensão do solo e spray marinho) ou antrópicas (emissão industrial, emissão portuária, queima de combustíveis fósseis, queima de biomassa, incineração de resíduos e processos para a geração de energia).…”

Validation of a Simple Microwave-Assisted Acid Digestion Method Using Microvessels for Analysis of Trace Elements in Atmospheric PM2.5 in Monitoring and Fingerprinting Studies

“…Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS) combined with microwave assisted digestion has become the preferred methodology for the analysis of metals in environmental samples including PM [13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21]. This technique offers low detection limits, wide linear dynamic range, multi-element capability, ability to measure isotope ratios and high sample throughput.…”