Atmospheric Trace Metals Research Articles

The concentrations of trace metals in plants from phosphogypsum waste heap in Wiślinka, northern Poland

The aim of this work was determination of trace metals (Pb, Zn, Ni, Cu and Fe) in different plants collected in the vicinity of phosphogypsum waste heap in Wiślinka (northern Poland). The concentrations of trace metals were determined by two methods: AAS (atomic absorption spectrometry) and OES-ICP (atomic emission spectrometry with inductively coupled plasma). Enhanced levels of iron were observed in all the analyzed samples. This fact can be explained by the higher content of iron in the groundwaters of Żulawy Wiślane, where concentration of iron was 60 mg/l. The trace metals concentrations in plant samples from phosphogypsum waste heap recorded in this study are generally higher than in control sites. In this study the relationship is shown between atmospheric trace metals deposition and elevated trace metals element concentrations in plants and topsoils, especially in the vicinity of phoshpogypsum waste heap.

Direct measurements of atmospheric iron, cobalt, and aluminum‐derived dust deposition at Kerguelen Islands

Atmospheric deposition is one of the major sources of nutrients bringing trace metals to remote marine biota. In this study, total atmospheric deposition and crustal aerosol concentrations were monitored at Kerguelen Islands (49°18′S; 70°07′E) in the Southern Ocean during a short campaign in early 2005 and then continuously for about 2 years (2009–2010). Results show very low levels of atmospheric dust and trace metals concentrations but higher deposition fluxes than expected. The averaged total dust deposition flux as derived from Al deposition measurements is 659 μg m−2 d−1. Simultaneously measured Fe and Co deposition fluxes are respectively 29 μg m−2 d−1 (520 nmol m−2 d−1) and 0.014 μg m−2 d−1 (0.24 nmol m−2 d−1), giving typically crustal elemental ratios to Al of 0.54 and 2.6 10−4. Measured dust deposition is in relatively good agreement with those simulated by current atmospheric models, but suggest that previous indirect calculations from field experiments are too low by a factor of 20. Observations and model results show that dust is transported above the marine atmospheric boundary layer to Kerguelen Islands, and thus that surface concentrations are not representative of the total dust column. Indeed, using surface concentrations leads to very large computed wet scavenging ratios, and to the conclusion that it is not appropriate to derive deposition fluxes from surface concentrations at remote ocean sites.

Atmospheric Mineral Dust and Trace Metals over Urban Environment in Western India during Winter

Trace metal concentrations in PM2.5 and PM10 are studied from Ahmedabad, an urban location in western India. During winter, concentrations of Zn, Cd and Pb are in the range of 16.5–290, 0.1–5.4, 28–1023 ng/m3 in PM2.5 and 38–459, 0.21–8.4, 48–1223 ng/m3 in PM10, respectively. Enrichment Factor (EF) analysis with respect to Al showed significant enrichment of elements like Cd, Pb, Zn and Cu in fine mode particles, suggesting their strong anthropogenic contribution. About 43% of PM10 mass is constituted by mineral dust, and the dominant fraction (~88%) of the same exists in coarse fraction with a characteristic Fe/Al ratio of 0.53. The Ca/Al ratio is ~1.1 in PM10 and ~0.8 in PM2.5 indicating that aerosol over this region is rich in Ca minerals compared to the average upper continental crust. Positive Matrix Factorization (PMF) analysis using trace metal and major components reveals five sources for PM2.5 and six for PM10. The PMF results suggest anthropogenic sources contribute ~80% and 40–50% of the PM2.5 and PM10 mass, respectively. Incineration/industrial emission, biomass burning, vehicular emissions and re-suspended/long range transported dust are the other prominent sources identified in this work. These source contributions exhibit large temporal variations during winter, as the sampling location is influenced by air masses from different source regions.

Epiphytic lichen Flavoparmelia caperata as a sentinel for trace metal pollution

Widely spread lichen specie Flavoparmelia caperata is used in a biomonitoring study for atmospheric trace metal pollution in natural ecosystems in Southeastern Serbia. The concentration and distribution pattern of 21 metals in lichens were determined by inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry. The difference observed between metal deposition in peripheral and central parts of lichen thalli reflected air quality changes in the last and previous years. These findings were confirmed with principal component analysis. Our study demonstrated the accumulation of Ba, K, Mg, Na, Tl and Zn in peripheral parts of thalli, while As, B, Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Ga, In, Li, Ni, Pb and Se were concentrated in central parts of thalli.

Indoor/outdoor relationship of trace metals in the atmospheric particulate matter of an industrial area

Indoor/outdoor relationship of trace metals in the atmospheric particulate matter of an industrial area

Bioindication of atmospheric trace metals – With special references to megacities

Bioindication of atmospheric trace metals – With special references to megacities

Delonix regia and Casuarina equisetifolia as passive biomonitors and as bioaccumulators of atmospheric trace metals

Delonix regia and Casuarina equisetifolia as passive biomonitors and as bioaccumulators of atmospheric trace metals

Atmospheric trace metals over the south-west Indian Ocean: Total gaseous mercury, aerosol trace metal concentrations and lead isotope ratios

Atmospheric trace metals over the south-west Indian Ocean: Total gaseous mercury, aerosol trace metal concentrations and lead isotope ratios

Aerosol trace metals, particle morphology and total gaseous mercury in the atmosphere of Oxford, UK

Aerosol trace metals, particle morphology and total gaseous mercury in the atmosphere of Oxford, UK

BBQ charcoal combustion as an important source of trace metal exposure to humans

BBQ charcoal combustion as an important source of trace metal exposure to humans

Investigating Jacaranda mimosifolia tree as biomonitor of atmospheric trace metals

Studies on the use of tree bark as biomonitors for environmental pollutants are still very scarce. We evaluated the reliability of using Jacaranda mimosifolia, a common tree in Tshwane City of South Africa, as a suitable biomonitor of atmospheric trace metals. Bark samples were collected from ten different locations during two sampling periods. The concentrations of the metals were determined by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. The concentrations of the metals were 33.2-1,795 microg/g (Pb), 21.4-210 microg/g (Cu), 68.4-490 microg/g (Zn), 30.6-2,916 microg/g (Cr), 0.12-1.34 microg/g (Cd), and 6.04-68.0 microg/g (V), respectively. The differences obtained for the results from different sites were significant (p < 0.05). A significant difference was also observed between the two sampling periods. The trace metals concentrations suggested that automobile emissions are a major source of these metals. The study also confirms the suitability of J. mimosifolia as a biomonitor of atmospheric deposition of these metals.

Atmospheric trace metal concentrations at Norwegian background sites during 25 years and its relation to European emissions

Atmospheric trace metal concentrations at Norwegian background sites during 25 years and its relation to European emissions

Tracing of Industrial Aerosol Sources in an Urban Environment Using Pb, Sr, and Nd Isotopes

A comprehensive Pb-Sr-Nd isotope tracer study of atmospheric trace metal pollution has been performed in the urban environment of Strasbourg-Kehl. Filter dust of the principal pollutant sources (waste incinerators, thermal power plant and steel plant) and soot of car and ship exhausts have been analyzed. In addition tree barks (as biomonitors) and PM10 have been analyzed to trace and determine the distribution of the pollution in the environment. The industrial sources have highly variable epsilonNd values (-9.7 and -12.5 for incinerators and -17.5 for steel plant). Much higher epsilonNd values have been found for soot of car exhausts (-6 and -6.9). These high values make the Nd isotope system a powerful tool for the discrimination of traffic emissions but especially for the identification of diesel derived particles in the urban environment. The 206Pb/207Pb isotope ratios of gasoline are low (1.089) compared to diesel soot (1.159). The 26Pb/207Pb ratios of 1.151-1.152 for the steel plant and 1.152 for the solid waste incinerator are close to the Pb isotope ratio of diesel. The 87Sr/ 8Sr isotope ratios of the principal industrial sources vary significantly: 0.7095 for the domestic solid waste incinerator, 0.709 for the steel plant, and 0.7087 for car exhaust soot. PM10 aerosols collected in the urban center of Strasbourg show the influence of the pollutant sources at 3-7 km distance from the center. Most of the aerosols Pb isotopic compositions suggest Pb admixtures from at least three sources: a natural background and in function of the wind direction the domestic waste incinerator (S-wind) or the steel plant and the chemical waste incinerator (NE-wind). The traffic contribution can only be estimated with help of Nd isotopes. Therefore the clear identification of different pollutant sources in the urban environment is only possible by combining the three different isotope systems and is based on the fact that significant differences exist between the Pb, Sr, and Nd isotope ratios of the natural atmospheric background and pollutants containing Pb, Sr, and Nd of industrial origin with similar variable 206Pb/207Pb, 87Sr/ 86Sr, and 143Nd/144Nd.

Scavenging of atmospheric trace metal pollutants by mineral dusts: Inter-regional transport of Australian trace metal pollution to New Zealand

Scavenging of atmospheric trace metal pollutants by mineral dusts: Inter-regional transport of Australian trace metal pollution to New Zealand

Contribution to biomonitoring of some trace metals by deciduous tree leaves in urban areas

Leaves of the deciduous tree species, horse chestnut (Aesculus hippocastanum L.) and Turkish hazel (Corylus colurna L.) were used as accumulative biomonitors of trace metal pollution in the urban area of Belgrade. Using differential pulse anodic stripping voltametry, trace metal concentrations (Pb, Cu, Zn, Cd) were determined at the single leaf level (ten leaves per species, per month), during two successive years with markedly different atmospheric level of trace metals. Increased trace metal concentrations in the leaves of A. hippocastanum reflected elevated atmospheric trace metal pollution, whereas C. colurna L. did not respond accordingly. The contents of Pb and Zn in soil over the same period also followed this trend. Anatomical analyses, in young as well as in old leaves of both species, indicated typical foliar injuries of plants exposed to stressful air conditions. Water relations that correspond to leaf age may have contributed to the considerable trace metal accumulation in leaves.

Statistical analysis of atmospheric trace metals and particulate fractions in Islamabad, Pakistan

Statistical analysis of atmospheric trace metals and particulate fractions in Islamabad, Pakistan

REE characteristics and Pb, Sr and Nd isotopic compositions of steel plant emissions

REE characteristics and Pb, Sr and Nd isotopic compositions of steel plant emissions

Atmospheric trace metal characterization in industrial area of Lisbon, Portugal

A set of 15 atmospheric aerosol samples was collected in an industrial area of Lisbon, Portugal and then analyzed by instrumental neutron activation analysis (INAA). Both fine and coarse aerosol samples were collected during November and December 2001 on polycarbonate filters with Gent samplers. The INAA methodology utilized both thermal and epithermal neutron irradiations. Compton suppressed and normal gamma-ray spectra were acquired simultaneously for each measurement and the elemental concentrations of 30 elements were determined. Enrichment factors, wind speed comparison and receptor modeling techniques were applied to obtain the different source contributions of the aerosols. Crustal, marine and anthropogenic sources were identified. The anthropogenic elements have origin mainly in the area close to the sampling site (<5 km), with the exception of Ca and V. A direct relationship was observed between the anthropogenic atmospheric aerosol concentrations and wind speed.

Variations in atmospheric PM trace metal content in Spanish towns: Illustrating the chemical complexity of the inorganic urban aerosol cocktail

Variations in atmospheric PM trace metal content in Spanish towns: Illustrating the chemical complexity of the inorganic urban aerosol cocktail

Atmospheric trace metals over the Atlantic and South Indian Oceans: Investigation of metal concentrations and lead isotope ratios in coastal and remote marine aerosols

Atmospheric trace metals over the Atlantic and South Indian Oceans: Investigation of metal concentrations and lead isotope ratios in coastal and remote marine aerosols