Trace Metal Content and Health Risk Assessment of PM10 in an Urban Environment of León, Mexico

Julia Griselda Cerón Bretón,Guadalupe Hernández López,Ildefonso Esteban Pech Pech,Claudio Guarnaccia,Jonathan D.W Kahl,Simón Eduardo Carranco Lozada,Stephanie Martínez Morales,Rosa María Cerón Bretón,Reyna Del Carmen Lara Severino,Maria De La Luz Espinosa Fuentes,Alberto Antonio Espinosa Guzman,Evangelina Ramírez Lara,Marcela Rangel Marrón

doi:10.3390/atmos10100573

Abstract

Trace metal concentrations in PM10 were measured in an urban–industrial site in León, Mexico in three different seasons. PM10 were collected in quartz fiber filters of 47 mm diameter using low volume equipment operating with a controlled flow of 5 L min−1 over 24 h. Mass concentrations were gravimetrically determined and it was found that PM10 samples showed values in excess of the Mexican standard and the established values by WHO during cold dry and warm dry seasons. Morphology of selected particles was studied by SEM-EDS analysis, and the elemental composition was determined. Collected samples were analyzed by atomic absorption spectrometry in order to quantify ambient air concentrations of some trace metals (Cu, Co, Zn, Cd, Fe, Mg, and Mn). Median concentrations of trace metals showed the maximum value for iron (3.079 μgm−3) and the minimum value for Cd (0.050 μgm−3) over the entire period. From the meteorological analysis, it was found that sources located SW and ESE of the sampling site contributed to the levels of trace metals in PM10 in the studied site. The health risk assessment found that the population of León is at increased lifetime risk of experiencing cancer because of exposure to these concentrations of PM10 and their trace metal content.

Highlights

The metropolitan area of León (MAL) located in Guanajuato, Mexico, is one of the most important urban areas in the center of the country due to its commercial, industrial, and economic development, with a population of 1,578,626 inhabitants within an area of about 1220 km2 [1]
The range of the median values of PM10 gravimetric concentrations in the present study were similar to those found in Tampico, Mexico [23], but lower than found concentrations in Puebla, Mexico [24], Algiers, Algeria [25] and Ahvaz, Iran [26]
Range of the median Mn concentrations were higher than reported concentrations for Rio de Janeiro, Brazil [31], Acerra, Italy [11], Tijuana, Mexico [29], Colima, Mexico [32], but lower than those reported for Algiers, Algeria [25] and Silesia, Poland [27]

Summary

Introduction

The metropolitan area of León (MAL) located in Guanajuato, Mexico, is one of the most important urban areas in the center of the country due to its commercial, industrial, and economic development, with a population of 1,578,626 inhabitants within an area of about 1220 km2 [1]. The extensive industrial activities have caused a marked increase in urban development and in traffic density. This situation has resulted in a growing need for transport, both public and private, with associated increases in fuel consumption and a greater generation of atmospheric pollutants. The vehicular fleet registered for León in 2016 included 353,199 automobiles, 6915 passenger buses, and 57,012 motorcycles. In 2016, the population density in León was

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