Abstract
Atmospheric aerosol samples were collected at Faraglione Camp, 3 km away from the Italian Mario Zucchelli Station (Terra Nova Bay, Ross Sea), from 1 December 2013 to 2 February 2014. A two-step extraction procedure was applied to characterize the soluble and insoluble components of PM10-bound metals. Samples were analyzed for Al, Fe, Cd, Cu, and Pb by square wave anodic stripping voltammetry (SWASV) and by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrophotometer (GF-AAS). The mean atmospheric concentrations were (reported as means ± SD) Al 24 ± 3 ng m−3; Fe 23 ± 4 ng m−3; Cd 0.92 ± 0.53 pg m−3; Cu 43 ± 9 pg m−3, and Pb 16 ± 5 pg m−3. The fractionation pattern was metal-specific, with Al, Fe, and Pb mainly present in the insoluble fractions, Cd in the soluble one, and Cu equally distributed between the two fractions. The summer evolution showed overall constant behavior of both fractions for Al and Fe, while a bell-shaped trend was observed for the three trace metals. Cd and Cu showed a bell-shaped evolution involving both fractions. A seasonal increase in Pb occurred only for the insoluble fraction, while the soluble fraction remained almost constant. Sequential extraction and enrichment factors indicated a crustal origin for Al, Fe, and Pb, and additional (marine or anthropogenic) contributions for Cd and Cu. Back trajectory analysis showed a strong contribution of air masses derived from the Antarctic plateau. A potential low contribution from anthropized areas cannot be excluded. Further studies are necessary to better characterize the chemical composition of the aerosol, to discriminate between natural and anthropogenic sources, and to evaluate a quantitative source apportionment.
Highlights
Atmospheric aerosol is the primary source of soluble or insoluble solid and liquid material that, in different ways, plays a key role in the terrestrial climate system [1]
Atmospheric aerosol can be transported from other continents in remote areas, for example, polar regions, through long-range atmospheric transport (LRAT), a phenomenon that is mainly controlled by wind and meteorological conditions [3,4]
The results are reported as the sum of the two fractions obtained in the sequential extraction procedure and as direct measurements of the total concentrations
Summary
Atmospheric aerosol is the primary source of soluble or insoluble solid and liquid material that, in different ways, plays a key role in the terrestrial climate system [1]. Atmospheric aerosol can be transported from other continents in remote areas, for example, polar regions, through long-range atmospheric transport (LRAT), a phenomenon that is mainly controlled by wind and meteorological conditions [3,4] Antarctica, as it is situated far from anthropogenic pollution sources, is the ideal place to study natural processes, like those related to aerosol. Besides the well-known Na, Mg, K, and Ca as markers of primary marine aerosol sources [15], or sulfates and ammonium used to detect marine biogenic sources [15,17], several trace elements (Al, La, Ce, Nd) can be employed as valuable indicators of crustal inputs (i.e., soils or mineral dust) [16] Metals such as As, Pb, Cd, Cr, and Ni are tracers of anthropogenic pollution, in relation to atmospheric emissions [4,10,13]. Our principal goals were to (1) measure the concentrations Al, Fe, Cd, Cu, and Pb in one of the most remote areas of the world; (2) evaluate the metal partitioning between soluble and insoluble fractions; (3) characterize the summer evolution of the two metal fractions; (4) assess the natural and anthropogenic sources of the measured metal contents and the possible impact of long-range transport
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