Abstract
Trace metals Fe, Mn, Cr, Cu, Ni, Co, Pb, Zn, Cd, and As were determined on a monthly basis in a total of 52 rain samples collected from six different locations in the central region of Mexico during March 2016–April 2017. The average concentrations of trace metals (mg/L) in the rainwater samples showed an order of Zn (0.873) > Fe (0.395) > Mn (0.083) > Cr (0.041) ≥ Cu (0.041) > Pb (0.031) > Ni (0.020) > Co (0.013) > As (0.0003) > Cd (0.002). The differences observed in metal concentrations are related to variations in the influence of continental air masses, local transport, regional advection, and the solubility of trace metals. High concentrations of metals were observed in the months of March to May at all sites, probably due to the less extensive removal of air/air pollutants. The values obtained from the enrichment factor (EF) per metal showed relatively high values for Cd, Zn, Cu, Pb, Co, Ni, and Cr, suggesting anthropogenic origin. Pearson’s correlation matrix validated the distribution of trace metal sources and their relationships with local/regional meteorological characteristics. This paper presents relevant basic information for the evaluation of the toxic potential of rainwater and the possible health risks when using this source of water for human consumption.
Highlights
IntroductionRainwater comprises sea salt and soil dust, while anthropogenic sources include gases and particles associated with traffic emissions, road dust resuspension, nonferrous metal production, fossil fuel combustion, and residential heating [4,5,6]
Rainwater chemistry is extremely variable, both geographically and temporally responding to atmospheric circulation patterns [1], possessing particulates from local or long-range transport [2,3].Naturally, rainwater comprises sea salt and soil dust, while anthropogenic sources include gases and particles associated with traffic emissions, road dust resuspension, nonferrous metal production, fossil fuel combustion, and residential heating [4,5,6]
The atmospheric budget of trace metals is mainly controlled by emissions from anthropogenic/natural sources and deposition through wet/dry scavenging [13]
Summary
Rainwater comprises sea salt and soil dust, while anthropogenic sources include gases and particles associated with traffic emissions, road dust resuspension, nonferrous metal production, fossil fuel combustion, and residential heating [4,5,6]. Water 2020, 12, 192 proves to be a vector of nutrients and contaminants (including metals) in all biogeochemical cycles of aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems [9,10,11,12]. The atmospheric budget of trace metals is mainly controlled by emissions from anthropogenic/natural sources and deposition through wet/dry scavenging [13]. With reference to wet deposition, it includes two main mechanisms, namely in-cloud and below cloud scavenging [14]
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