Abstract
Solubility of transition metal compounds plays a significant role in adverse health effects because that is one of the most important factors of particulate matter bioavailability in the body. In this study, we focus on the chemical analysis of particulate matter (PM) collected at different locations in the area of Kraków, one of the most polluted cities in Poland, and compare them with Standard Reference Material (SRM) 1648a from NIST. The content of four elements (carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, and sulfur) was determined by elemental analysis, and the ratio between organic and inorganic carbon in PM extracts was confirmed by Total Organic Carbon analysis. Among the most concentrated elements found there are calcium, magnesium, sulfur, silicon, and zinc, whereas copper, iron, and manganese were present in lower concentrations. SEM-EDS analysis showed a similar morphology of the SRM and PM collected in the urban area of Kraków, while PM collected in the industrial area has smaller particles with a smooth surface. The reported analyses are significant for the APARIC project (“Air Pollution versus Autoimmunity: Role of multiphase aqueous Inorganic Chemistry”), which aims to identify the main inorganic components of PM and to understand how they affect the development of immunological diseases.
Highlights
According to the European Environment Agency, Poland is one of the most polluted countries in Europe
The main goal of this study was to analyze the particulate matter collected in different locations in Kraków in terms of physicochemical properties and to compare them with Standard Reference Material (SRM 1648a) of urban air pollution obtained from the US National Institute of Standard and Technology (NIST)
Organic carbon which can be formed in the atmosphere as a result of chemical and photochemical reactions is another component of particulate matter (PM) [14]
Summary
According to the European Environment Agency, Poland is one of the most polluted countries in Europe. In the area of Kraków City, the concentration of PMs is the highest during the winter season and reaches 4 times higher values than during summer. Skopje and nearby Tetovo, are predestined to air pollution due to their localization in valleys and surrounding mountains In this area, the temperature inversion process occurs, as in Kraków, which makes these cities more susceptible to high air pollution [8]. Sofia is the city with its geographical location favorable for high levels of air pollution It is surrounded by the Vitosha massif in the south and the Balkan chain to the north [9]. Air pollution is the consequence of human activity and other, non-anthropogenic contributions
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