Abstract
Atmospheric particle-bound mercury (PHg) quantification, at a pg m−3 level, has been assessed in particulate matter samples (PM10) at several sites (industrial, urban and sub-urban sites) of Atlantic coastal European region during 13 months by using a direct thermo-desorption method. Analytical method validation was assessed using 1648a and ERM CZ120 reference materials. The limits of detection and quantification were 0.25 pg m−3 and 0.43 pg m−3, respectively. Repeatability of the method was generally below 12.6%. PHg concentrations varied between 1.5–30.8, 1.5–75.3 and 2.27–33.7 pg m−3 at urban, sub-urban and industrial sites, respectively. PHg concentration varied from 7.2 pg m−3 (urban site) to 16.3 pg m−3 (suburban site) during winter season, while PHg concentrations varied from 9.9 pg m−3 (urban site) to 19.3 pg m−3 (suburban site) during the summer. Other trace elements, major ions, black carbon (BC) and UV-absorbing particulate matter (UV PM) was also assessed at several sites. Average concentrations for trace metals (Al, As, Bi, Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb, Sb, Si, Sr, V and Zn) ranged from 0.08 ng m−3 (Bi) at suburban site to 1.11 µg m−3 (Fe) at industrial site. Average concentrations for major ions (including Na+, K+, Ca2+, NH4+, Mg2+, Cl−, NO3− and SO42−) ranged from 200 ng m−3 (K+) to 5332 ng m−3 (SO42−) at urban site, 166 ng m−3 (Mg2+) to 4425 ng m−3 (SO42−) at suburban site and 592 ng m−3 (K+) to 5853 ng m−3 (Cl−) at industrial site. Results of univariate analysis and principal component analysis (PCA) suggested crustal, marine and anthropogenic sources of PHg in PM10 at several sites studied. Toxicity prediction of PHg, by using hazard quotient, suggested no non-carcinogenic risk for adults.
Highlights
Inhalation of atmospheric particulate matter (APM) represents a significant exposure pathway to humans
Backward trajectory analysis shows that the of sodium chloride carried by marine air mass trajectory analysis shows that the major air masses transported at studied sites during thisBackward season come mainly from Atlantic major air masses transported at studied sites during this season come mainly from
Spain), represent a novel contribution to the knowledge of complex atmospheric cycle of mercury in found at these sites were lower than most of other ones reported at continental, Mediterranean and regions with high marine influence
Summary
Inhalation of atmospheric particulate matter (APM) represents a significant exposure pathway to humans. Several epidemiological studies have shown that chronic environmental exposure to Atmosphere 2020, 11, 33; doi:10.3390/atmos11010033 www.mdpi.com/journal/atmosphere. Mercury is a metal without any physiological demand in humans, with high toxicity (it affects the human central nervous system), long-distance transport and strong bioaccumulation tendency in the food chain, which poses a global concern and a great threat to human health, wildlife and environment [3]. Hg and its species are included in priority lists of toxic compounds by several international agreements dealing with environmental protection and international programs to reduce mercury emissions [4,5,6,7]. Mercury is emitted into the atmosphere, as gaseous elemental mercury
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