Suspended Particulate Matter In Air Research Articles

Bioconcentration capacity of moss Leskea angustata Tayl., for heavy metals and its application in the atmospheric biomonitoring of a metropolitan area

In this work, the bioconcentration capacity of heavy metals Cd, Cu, Pb and Zn in the moss Leskea angustata Tayl., exposed under laboratory conditions was evaluated, and subsequently the usefulness of moss for the heavy metals' biomonitoring associated with suspended particulate matter in air of the Toluca Valley Metropolitan Area was determined by means of the moss bag technique. To achieve the aims, bioassays were carried out in the laboratory with the moss, the exposure for a period of 6 months of the moss bags in the sites of the Automatic Atmospheric Monitoring Network of the Government of the State of Mexico and their subsequent analysis through of elemental and structural characterization techniques. The results of the bioassays on the moss L. angustata, demonstrate that this moss has adequate bioconcentration capabilities to be used as a biomonitor of heavy metals in polluted areas. The structural characterization of the moss L. angustata, shows that this moss has good adsorption characteristics (presence of functional groups, surface area of 19.87 m2 g−1, average pore diameter equal to 2.86 nm and a total pore volume of 0.014218 cm3 g−1). The significant correlations between Cd–Zn–Pb and between Pb and Zn with PM2.5, as well as a strong correlation between Pb and Zn with PM10, allow us to establish that these three metals have their main origin in the domestic combustion of wood and liquid petroleum gas (LP gas), as well as emissions from agricultural burning in the study area. Cu has a different origin than other metals and PM10 and PM2.5. The findings demonstrate a strong association between anthropogenic activities - such as domestic wood and LP gas combustion, agricultural burning emissions, vehicular emissions, tire wear, and industrial activities - and the detection, entrapment, and accumulation of several heavy metals by L. angustata moss.

Design of intelligent sampler for large flow total suspended particulates

For the current nuclear radiation problem in society, it is very important to monitor the content of radionuclides in the atmosphere. The large flow total suspended particulate (TSP) sampler is the key equipment to monitor radionuclides. In this paper, a large flow total suspended particulate intelligent sampler is developed, which has high sampling accuracy, stable and reliable operation, and forms a complete set of automatic membrane changing particulates matter analyzer with analyzer and membrane sending mechanism, realizing 24-hour unattended automatic membrane changing sampling and analysis, and is used to collect suspended particulate matter in air in radiation monitoring stations and scientific research institutes at all levels to analyze the radionuclides: total α, β and γ and so on.

The Exposure Profiles, Correlation Factors and Comparison of PAHs and Nitro-PAHs in Urban and Non-Urban Regions in Suspended Particulate Matter in Poland

ABSTRACTPolycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and their nitrated derivatives are responsible for mutagenic activation of ambient air. The aim of the study was the assessment of exposure for PAHs and nitro-PAHs in the urbanized region in Poland in comparison with the non-urbanized region and assessment of seasonal variation of PAHs and nitro-PAHs. Concentrations of 12 PAHs, 8 nitrated PAHs in total suspended particulate matter in air of urban and suburban (reference samples-mountain region) region in Poland during four seasons have been shown. The method of solvent extraction of particulate matter, fractionation organic extract and HPLC and GC/MS analysis were applied. The concentrations of PAHs and nitro-PAHs were 10–100 times lower in reference samples than concentrations of PAHs and nitro-PAHs in urban region in summer. The concentrations of PAHs and nitro-PAHs were highest in winter. The exposure profiles of PAHs and nitro-PAHs in four seasons have been shown. The correlation factor between concentrations of PAHs and nitro-PAHs was found. Important influence of ambient air temperature for PAHs and nitro-PAHs concentrations was shown. Obtained results suggest that the coal combustion in Polish households was the main source of PAHs and their nitro derivatives contaminations. Emission from transport sources is a secondary source of air pollution in urban areas.

Determination of trace metals in air of Chittagong city-Bangladesh

Air pollution problem is severe in the urban areas caused by both mobile as well as stationary sources. Mainly the two-stroke and diesel-run vehicles cause the severity of the problem by emitting highly contaminated exhausts. Considering severity of the problem, current study was undertaken to measure the air pollutants level in air of Chittagong city, Bangladesh. The heavy metals Zn, Pb, Mn, Cd, Cu and Co in suspended particulate matter (SPM) were determined at different locations of Chittagong city. The sampling locations were selected to reflect different influences from industrial and mobile sources in the highly populated center part of Chittagong city. Samplings were done during October and November 2008 from different areas of the metropolitan city of Chittagong city (Newmarket, Bahaddarhat, Nasirabad, General Electric Company (G.E.C.) Circle and Director’s Office of Department of Environment, Bangladesh). High volume sampler was used for the determination of SPM and the different metal concentrations were measured by atomic absorption spectrophotometer (AAS). The average results of particulate matters and trace metals have been compared to national and international standards. The value of SPM in air of Chittagong city is higher than that of Threshold Limit Value (TLV) recommended by World Health Organization (WHO), Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), USA and Department of Environment (DoE), Bangladesh. The metal concentrations of ambient air collected at different locations in Chittagong city is exceeded the threshold limit values and as a result the air of Chittagong city is considered polluted. Therefore, it is suggested that Government of Bangladesh should take proper steps to control the air pollution of Chittagong city.

Increase in inhalable particulates' concentration by commercial and industrial activities in the ambient air of a select Indian metropolis.

Inhalable particulates (particulates less than 10 micron) present in ambient air find passage into the respiratory system due to their small size and impair the health. Surveillance of inhalable particulates is, therefore, essential for assessing an inhalation health hazard. The activity also provides guidance for appropriate protection against the ill effects. Monitoring of inhalable particulates requires a high-volume sampler retrofitted with a size selective inlet (SSI) to separate and sample specified size-range fractions of suspended particulate matter in air. Measurement of inhalable particulates indirectly represents anthropogenic activity. In view of this, surveillance of inhalable particulates was conducted in select metropolitan cities of India during 1995-1997 to find out changes in their concentration. The inhalable particulates were measured by retrofitting a suitably designed SSI to the standard high-volume sampler. The study revealed that the concentration of inhalable particulates in the ambient air increased due to industrial activities up to 320, 168, and 546% and due to commercial activities up to 406, 198, and 140% in Ahmedabad, Mumbai, and Delhi, respectively. An increase in inhalable particulates' concentration during the above period also showed a marked seasonal variation. The increase due to commercial activity, however, did not show a definite tendency.

Mutagenic exposure in the rubber manufacturing industry: an industry wide survey

Mutagenic exposure conditions in several rubber manufacturing companies ( n=9) in The Netherlands were studied. Mutagenicity of total suspended particulate matter in air (TSPM) and of wipe samples from possible contact surfaces were measured in the Ames mutagenicity assay with Salmonella typhimurium YG1041 in the presence of a metabolic activation system. Large differences in median mutagenicity of TSPM samples were observed between companies (range 49–1056 rev/m 3) and to a lesser extent between production functions (range 129–402 rev/m 3). The production function curing revealed overall the highest TSPM mutagenicity levels. Forty-one percent of the surface wipe samples revealed mutagenic activity ranging from 26 to 665 rev/cm 2. Mixing had the largest proportion of positive samples resulting in a median surface mutagenic contamination of 39 rev/cm 2. Surface mutagenic contamination, averaged per department/company combination, showed only a weak correlation with TSPM mutagenicity ( r=0.28, P=0.05). Company, production function and total soluble matter (e.g. mass collected upon extraction with organic solvents with different polarity) explained 79 and 81% of the variability in mutagenicity of TSPM and surface contamination levels, respectively. ‘Company’ was identified as the most important exposure determinant for mutagenic activity in TSPM and surface wipe samples. This indicates the importance of company specific determinants like production volume and rubber chemicals used for the encountered mutagenic exposure conditions. Detection of substantial mutagenic activity on possible contact surfaces supports furthermore the potential importance of the dermal route in the uptake of genotoxic compounds of workers in the rubber manufacturing industry.

Particulate Matter in Air of the Cities of Athens and Patras (Greece): Particle-Size Distributions and Elemental Concentrations

ABSTRACT Samples of atmospheric particulate material were collected at the cities of Athens (between February and December 1992) and Patras (between October and December 1991) in Greece. The filter samples were analyzed by a laser technique for the determination of particle-size distributions and by atomic absorption spectrophotometry for the elemental analysis of Pb, Zn, Cu, Mn, and Cr. For the evaluation of the aerosols contribution to the atmospheric pollution, plots correlating the concentrations of heavy metals with the number average diameters of the suspended particulate matter in air were performed. The Pb concentration in the Patras air samples decreases in the size range up to 10.0 μm and then no definite trend appears. The Pb, Zn, Cu, and Mn concentrations in the Athens air samples increase with increasing particle diameter up to 4.0 μm and then decrease. Cr content of Athens' particles decreases with increasing particle diameter in the whole size range. Finally, the possible sources of heavy metals and the main factors affecting the aerosol's particle-size distributions are discussed.

Epidemiology of pollution-induced airway disease in Japan.

Air pollution has been implicated as one of the factors responsible for the increased incidence of allergic diseases seen over recent years. Epidemiological studies in Japan demonstrate that atopic subjects living in urban areas are more likely to suffer from the effects of air pollution, with increased coughing, sputum production, wheezing and throat irritation. Furthermore, animal studies show that high concentrations of pollutant gases can promote airway sensitization. The incidence of allergic rhinitis and asthma have been shown to be greater in areas where there is heavy traffic and hence high levels of automobile exhaust emissions. Intranasal administration of diesel exhaust particles in mice produces a stimulatory effect on immunoglobulin E production, and a similar finding has also been shown with suspended particulate matter in air. Air pollutants, such as ozone and nitrogen dioxide (NO2), have been shown to stimulate the production of granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor, which may play a vital role in airway hyperreactivity and asthma. In comparative studies of asthma in urban and rural areas, history of airway infection and a younger age of onset were found to be significantly greater in urban areas. When the asthmatic patients were divided into two groups according to environmental NO2 levels (group I: NO2 > 30 ppb; group II: NO2 < 30 ppb), no significant difference regarding the various parameters was noted between the two groups, except for a greater severity of asthma in adults in group I, and a greater severity in children in group II. These studies imply that air pollution may be one reason for the increase in allergic diseases in Japan, but a definitive conclusion cannot be drawn, and further investigation is warranted.

Direct Determination of Lead in Suspended Particulate Matter in Air by Tungsten Furnace-Atomic Absorption Spectrometry with a Punching Technique

A simple and rapid method for the determination of trace lead in suspended particulate matter in air has been investigated. The sample is collected on a cellulose nitrate filter (diameter: 44 mm, pore size: 0. 65 μm) with a low-volume air sampler (flow rate: 15 1/min). For direct determination, a small disc (diameter: 2. 0 mm) is cut from the filter with a paper punch, and it is introduced into a tungsten furnace. Then, 1. 0 μg of palladium (palladium chloride solution) as a matrix modifier which accomplishes available atomization of lead is added to the disc. The optimal thermal programs are as follows: drying at 300°C for 30 s, ashing at 1000°C for 30 s, and atomization at 2000°C for 2 s in a mixed gas atmosphere (flow rate: hydrogen 1. 01/min, argon 4. 01/min). The 283. 3 nm line was used for lead on the peak-area method under deuterium lamp-background correction. The relative standard deviation was 14. 3% for 7 times determination on 0. 035 μg/m3 lead in a suspended particulate matter.

Phytomonitoring of air pollution around a thermal power plant

This study was undertaken in order to assess the impact of air pollutants on vegetation around Obra thermal power plant (1550 M W capacity) in the Mirzapur district of Uttar Pradesh. For this purpose, Mangifera indica, Citrus medico and Bouganvillaea spectabilis plants, most common at all sites, were selected as test plants. Five study sites were selected northeast (prevailing wind) of the thermal power plant. A control site was also selected at a distance of 30 km north of Obra. Responses of plants to pollutants in terms of presence of foliar injury symptoms and changes in chlorophyll, ascorbic acid and S content were measured. These changes were correlated with ambient SO 2 and suspended particulate matter (SPM) concentrations and the amount of dust settled on leaf surfaces. The SO 2 and SPM concentrations were quite high in the immediate vicinity of the power plant. There also exists a direct relationship between the concentration of SPM in air and amount of dust deposited on leaf surfaces. Maximum dust deposition was observed on M. indica plants. The levels of foliar injury, chlorophyll and ascorbic acid were found to decrease and that of S increase in plants around the power plant in comparison to those growing at a control site. The magnitude of such changes was maximum in M. indica and minimum in C. medica. A species specific direct relationship between the increase in the amount of S and decrease in chlorophyll content was observed. The study suggests that differential sensitivity of plants to SO 2 may be used in evaluating the air pollution impact around emission sources and M. indica plants can be used as an indicator plant for quantifying biological changes.

Development of EDXRF techniques for the quantitative multielement analysis of urban dust samples

The investigation and monitoring of suspended particulate matter in air require accurate and sensitive multielement analysis of large numbers of samples. In the work described, airborne particles and settled urban dusts were examined by energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence spectrometry with secondary-target excitation. The practical requirements of trace-element determinations in dusts are reasonably satisfied by two techniques. Deposition of fine particles (under 3.5μm) on Nucleopore membrane filters provides thin-film samples, for which absorption and particle-size effects are usually negligible. Calibration is achieved by sputtering of certified NBS standard glasses onto membrane filters. In the destructive “fusion and direct solidification” technique, sample inhomogeneities and particle-size effects are eliminated by fusing the sample with lithium borate in a Pt/Au alloy crucible. La2O3 or WO3, added as heavy absorbers, can reduce the interelement-effects of the thick specimens to a certain extent. A newly developed computer program, based on a modified mathematical expression for the intensity, compensates for absorption and secondary fluorescence effects. It is demonstrated that for some trace elements the background can be easily predicted as a linear function of the incomplete charge-collection of the Si(Li) detector. An intermethod comparison with atomic-absorption results is presented; the results are verified with the NBS Fly Ash standard reference material.

The size of suspended particulate matter in air.

By means of the NASN cascade impactor the particle sizes of ambient aerosols can be measured by fractionating the particles according to their aerodynamic dimensions, and the fractions can be quantified gravimetrically. Data obtained with this instrument show that particulate matter suspended in urban air in the United States and Great Britain is remarkably uniform in distribution and that the particles are predominantly less than 1 microm in diameter. In Ankara, Turkey, the high proportion of particles larger than 1 microm in diameter are associated with the incomplete combustion of lignite; particulate concentrations in Ankara, however, are considerably higher than those measured elsewhere. The growth of particles in air during temperature inversions occurs in Cincinnati; the greater proportion of large particles found there during inversion periods can account for the reduction in visibility. Aerosols in the vicinity of highways are composed of particles larger than those found some distance away because of the reentrainment of debris by the traffic-induced turbulence. On the other hand, highway configuration and traffic volume have little effect on the size distribution of aerosols in samples collected away from the turbulence area of the roadway. Aerosols measured inside buildings are predominantly smaller in size and exhibit a narrower range of sizes than aerosols outside buildings.

National air surveillance cascade impactor network. I. Size distribution measurements of suspended particulate matter in air

National air surveillance cascade impactor network. I. Size distribution measurements of suspended particulate matter in air