Abstract
Exposure to high concentrations of inhalable particulate matter (PM) is a known human health risk, depending on the chemical composition of the PM inhaled. Mogale City (Gauteng) is known for having several sources of airborne PM, however, less is known about the metals in the airborne PM. The aim of this study was to determine the metals in measured PM at Kagiso, Mogale City. An independent PM10 monitor was installed at the municipality’s existing monitoring site. This monitor continuously monitored PM10 between 23 August and 9 October 2013 and simultaneously sampled particles below 20 μm in diameter onto a glass fibre filter. This filter was replaced once towards the middle of the monitoring period. These two filters were chemically analysed to determine their metal content (30 metals) by the South African Bureau of Standards accredited laboratory at the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research by means of Inductively Coupled Plasma Spectroscopy (ICPS) based on the US EPA Method IO-3.1. To provide an estimate of possible health risk, the metal concentrations were used in a screening US-EPA human health risk assessment (HHRA). Since the analysed metals were reportedly below the detection limit, three hypothetical exposure scenarios (S) based on US-EPA recommendations were created for the HHRA. In S1, concentrations were considered to be the same as the detection limit for each metal; S2 assumed concentrations to be 50% of the detection limit; and S3 put concentrations at 10% of the detection limit. Potential risks (should pollution worsen) of developing respiratory and neurological effects were identified depending on the hypothetical scenarios. Continuous long-term monitoring and chemical characterisation are necessary to confirm these preliminary findings.
Highlights
Metals are natural components of the Earth’s crust
Results are given for the TOPAS measured PM10 concentrations and chemical composition followed by the results for each health risk assessment (HHRA) step and risk estimates for Scenario 1 (S1), Scenario 2 (S2) and Scenario 3 (S3)
PM10 concentrations measured by the TOPAS instrument exceeded the South African 24-h ambient air quality standard of 120 μg/m3 three times during the monitoring period of 23 August 2013 to 9 October 2013 (Figure 2)
Summary
Metals are natural components of the Earth’s crust Many of these metals are needed in the human body in small amounts, such as iron (Fe) which is contained in haemoglobin, copper (Cu) and manganese (Mn) which are in enzymes, and chromium (Cr), which is a co-factor in the regulation of sugar levels (CDC, 2011). Depending on concentrations, these trace elements may have detrimental health effects Heavy metals such as lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd) and mercury (Hg) are detrimental to human health as they may bio-accumulate in the body, while others are carcinogenic, such as arsenic, beryllium, cadmium and nickel (CDC, 2011). Mogale City Local Municipality (MCLM) in Gauteng Province (South Africa) has a long history of gold mining. As a result, it has a number of mine dumps, some of which have not been rehabilitated. Activities within the MCLM that may contribute to concentrations of particulate matter (PM) in air include mining of minerals, quarrying of stone, extraction of clay and sandpits, use of motor vehicles, various heavy and light industrial activities, as well as domestic fuel burning (AQMP, 2013)
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