Trace Metals In Particulate Matter Research Articles

Deposition of trace metals associated with atmospheric particulate matter: Environmental fate and health risk assessment

Anthropogenic and natural sources influence trace metals (TMs) bound to different sized particulate matter (PM) in dry and wet atmospheric deposition, which can create ecosystem and human health issues in the long run. Limited reviews are available summarizing worldwide concentrations in TMs in atmospheric PMs, their sources and pathways. Simultaneously, quantitative assessment of the potential human and ecosystem health risks imposed by the atmospheric particulate matter has not been adequately reviewed. Addressing this gap, here we review, the concentration of TMs in dry deposition mainly varies with the responsible sources, whereas, in wet deposition, it depends on the solubility of TMs. Other than deposition on impervious surfaces, the TMs incorporated PM can be deposited on biological agents. Health risk assessments show that ingestion and dermal contact pathways are more likely to cause health issues, however, the probability of occurring ingestion and dermal contact pathways is limited. Attention must be paid to the contribution from non-exhaust and exhaust vehicular emissions for TMs in atmospheric deposition, understanding their impact on stormwater management and urban agriculture. Behaviors of TMs in the atmosphere depends on many complex factors including origin, wind patterns, and weather conditions. Therefore, future research needs to be carried to model and predict the fate and transfer of TMs once they are generated through natural and anthropogenic sources. We believe that such research would allow establishing pollution control policies and measures in urban environments which will be critical to reduce the levels of TMs associated with atmospheric deposition in the environment.

Application of TXRF in monitoring trace metals in particulate matter and cloud water

Abstract. Trace metals in ambient particulate matter and cloud are considered key elements of atmospheric processes as they affect air quality, environmental ecosystems, and cloud formation. However, they are often available at trace concentrations in these media such that their analysis requires high-precision and sensitive techniques. In this study, different analytical methods were applied to quantify trace metals in particulate matter (PM) samples collected on quartz and polycarbonate filters as well as cloud water, using the Total reflection X-Ray Fluorescence (TXRF) technique. These methods considered the measurement of filter samples directly without and with chemical pretreatment. Direct measurements involved the analysis of PM samples collected on polycarbonate filters and cloud water samples after they are brought onto TXRF carrier substrates. The chemical treatment method involved the assessment of different acid digestion procedures on PM sampled on quartz filters. The solutions applied were reverse aqua regia, nitric acid, and a combination of nitric acid and hydrogen peroxide. The effect of cold-plasma treatment of samples on polycarbonate filters before TXRF measurements was also investigated. Digestion with the reverse aqua regia solution provided lower blanks and higher recovery in comparison to other tested procedures. The detection limits of the elements ranged from 0.3 to 44 ng cm−2. Ca, K, Zn, and Fe showed the highest detection limits of 44, 35, 6, and 1 ng cm−2, while As and Se had the lowest of 0.3 and 0.8 ng cm−2, respectively. The method showed higher recovery for most trace metals when applied to commercially available reference materials and field samples. TXRF measurements showed good agreement with results obtained from ion chromatography measurements for elements such as Ca and K. Cold-plasma treatment did not significantly lead to an increase in the detected concentration, and the results were element specific. Baking of the quartz filters prior to sampling showed a reduction of more than 20 % of the filter blanks for elements such as V, Sr, Mn, Zn, and Sb. The methods were applied successfully on ambient particulate matter and cloud water samples collected from the Atlas Mohammed V station in Morocco and the Cape Verde Atmospheric Observatory. The obtained concentrations were within the range reported using different techniques from similar remote and background regions elsewhere, especially for elements of anthropogenic origins such as V, Pb, and Zn with concentrations of up to 10, 19, and 28 ng m−3, respectively. Enrichment factor analysis indicated that crustal matter dominated the abundance of most of the elements, while anthropogenic activities also contributed to the abundance of elements such as Sb, Se, and Pb. The results confirm that TXRF is a useful complementary sensitive technique for trace metal analysis of particulate matter in the microgram range as well as in cloud water droplets.

Trace metal variability controlled by hydrodynamic processes in a polluted inner shelf environment (Besòs prodelta, NW Mediterranean)

Trace metal pollution of coastal sediment is monitored in many countries to control its evolution and the effectiveness of preventive and corrective measures. However, temporal variability of trace metal pollution is not always due to changes in pollution management, as natural processes can induce a significant variability in the trace metal content of sediment and particulate matter, especially in strongly polluted coastal areas. To study this variability, time series of trace metals in particulate matter and bottom sediments were recorded along with hydrographic and hydrodynamic parameters in the most highly polluted zone of the Besòs River prodelta. Two benthic tripods equipped with current meters, turbidimeters and sediment traps were deployed at 20 and 30 m water depth from late-September to mid-June and sediment cores were taken four times at each site during the deployment period. Trace metal content in the trapped particulate matter and the surface sediment increased during storm events, which can resuspend and erode several cm of subsurface sediments with higher pollution levels from earlier industrial times. After the storms, significant accumulation of less polluted sediment began, and near-bottom currents redistributed it, decreasing trace metal contents in surface sediments and trapped particulate matter. Therefore, energy conditions previous to monitoring sampling must be considered in order to evaluate the evolution of trace metals in inner shelf polluted sediments.

Chemical fractionation and health risk assessment of particulate matter-bound metals in Pune, India.

The present study deals with the assessment of sequential extraction of particulate matter (PM)-bound metals and the potential health risks associated with them in a growing metropolitan city (Pune) of India. The average mass concentration of both PM2.5-10 and PM2.5 exceeded the National Ambient Air Quality Standards. Significant seasonal variation in mass concentration was found for both size fractions of PM with higher values in winter season and lower in monsoon. Chemical species of the studied trace metals in PM exhibited significant differences, due to difference in sources of pollution. Metals such as Cd, Pb, and Cr in both size fractions and Zn and Co in fine fraction were more efficiently extracted in mobile fractions showing their mobile nature while Ni and Fe showed reduced mobility. Fe showed the highest concentrations among all the analyzed elements in both coarse (PM2.5-10) and fine (PM2.5) PM, while Cd showed least concentration in both size fractions. PCA identified industrial emissions, vehicular activity, coal combustion, diesel exhaust, waste incineration, electronic waste processing, constructional activities, soil, and road dust as probable contributors responsible for the metallic fraction of PM. All the metals showed varying contamination in PM samples. The contamination was higher for fine particles than coarse ones. The average global contamination factor was found to be 27.0-34.3 in coarse and fine PM, respectively. The hazard quotient (HQ) estimated for Cd, Co, and Ni (both total and easily accessible concentrations) exceeded the safe level (HQ=1), indicating that these metals would result in non-carcinogenic health effects to the exposed population. The HQ ranged from 9.1×10-5 for Cu (coarse) to 8.3 for Ni (fine) PM. The cancer risk for Cd, Ni, and Cr in both sized PM were much higher than the acceptable limits of USEPA.

Trace metal content in inhalable particulate matter (PM2.5-10 and PM2.5) collected from historical mine waste deposits using a laboratory-based approach.

Mine wastes and tailings are considered hazardous to human health because of their potential to generate large quantities of highly toxic emissions of particulate matter (PM). Human exposure to As and other trace metals in PM may occur via inhalation of airborne particulates or through ingestion of contaminated dust. This study describes a laboratory-based method for extracting PM2.5-10 (coarse) and PM2.5 (fine) particles from As-rich mine waste samples collected from an historical gold mining region in regional, Victoria, Australia. We also report on the trace metal and metalloid content of the coarse and fine fraction, with an emphasis on As as an element of potential concern. Laser diffraction analysis showed that the proportions of coarse and fine particles in the bulk samples ranged between 3.4-26.6 and 0.6-7.6%, respectively. Arsenic concentrations were greater in the fine fraction (1680-26,100mgkg-1) compared with the coarse fraction (1210-22,000mgkg-1), and Co, Fe, Mn, Ni, Sb and Zn were found to be present in the fine fraction at levels around twice those occurring in the coarse. These results are of particular concern given that fine particles can accumulate in the human respiratory system. Our study demonstrates that mine wastes may be an important source of metal-enriched PM for mining communities.

Trace Metal Mercury Levels in Residential Homes in Kuwait

Kuwait is an oil rich state on the northeastern corner of Arabian Peninsula and has faced the unprecedented man made environmental disaster in early 1991 of igniting over 600 oil wells those continually burnt for a period of over six months. The use of crude and heavy fuel oil in the power generating facilities has aggravated the pollution due to particulate matters that carry trace metals. The climatic conditions in this part of the world result into very frequent dust storm transporting particulate matters short and long distance. Mercury in atmosphere is mainly due to burning of fossil fuel, incinerators, crematoriums, extraction of precious metals and salt-chlorine industries. This study has been initiated for mercury measurements from an old salt-chlorine industrial site that has been closed since 1984. To compare the mercury levels elsewhere, a comprehensive measurement program was devised and conducted to obtain mercury levels in most of the urban areas in Kuwait. Domestic dust samples from selected residences were collected for a period of a week. These samples were analyzed using KISR/T0-345 method especially developed for precise measurements of trace metals in particulate matter. It is required to identify the sources of mercury that resulted into such mercury levels in indoor air in the urban areas. For those areas where mercury levels are substantially high mitigation methods have been proposed to reduce the impact on to the residents.

Assessment of Godavari estuarine mangrove ecosystem through trace metal studies

Trace metals (Fe, Mn, Cu, Co, Ni. Pb, Cd and Cr) analyses in particulate matter and sediments were carried out at 16 different stations in the Godavari mangrove ecosystem covering the three regions viz., Kakinada (KKD) bay, Goutami–Godavari estuary (GGE) and Coringa and Gaderu mangrove environments (CGME). Higher concentrations of trace metals in particulate matter and in sediments were noticed in the mangrove environment compared to the KKD bay and GGE region. The significant correlations observed between several couples of metals in different regions as well as between numbers of heavy metals (Fe, Mn, Zn) with Total Suspended Matter (TSM) in particulate organic matter could be an indication of the role of the complexation with organic matter in the distribution pattern of these metals. Further significant correlations between organic carbon (OC) and Cr, Co, Pb, Cu and Mn in sediments of all the three regions indicate that organic matter acts as a metal carrier. The values of Pollution Load Index (PLI) were low and varied between 0.34 and 0.68 in KKD bay, 0.47 and 0.49 in GGE and, from 0.62 to 1.03 in CGME area, which indicate that the estuarine ecosystem is not of pollution concern under the present scenario.

Enrichments of Trace Metals in Particulate Matter From the Southern East China Sea, North of Taiwan

This study investigates the distributions and enrichments of trace metals in suspended and sinking particulate matter from southern East China Sea (ECS) north of Taiwan during the period April 1992 to April 1993. According to these results, concentration of suspended particulate matter in the inner shelf of southern China Sea, the upwellinginfluenced shelf break, and in Kuroshio water are 1.30 (surface)–4.2 (bottom) mg1−1, ca. 0.4 mg1−1 and 0.1–0.2 mg1−1, respectively, reflecting various influences of terrestrial inputs. A benthic nepheloid layer (BNL), apparently owing to resuspension of local and/or remote bottom sediments, formed over the shelf region. Temporal variations in trace metal contents and enrichments in suspended matter from the shelf region reflect the variation of metal inputs from Chinese rivers, particularly from the Changjiang runoff. the enriched metals are more likely to be derived from anthropogenic input, rather than from biological accumulation. in addition, a decrease in metal contents and an increase in salinity confirm the transport of suspended particulate metals from the East China Sea shelf to the open ocean. the feature of metal plume in the intermediate layer (550–800m) of Kuroshio water also verifies this occurrence. Moreover, the sinking particles collected from a sediment trap on the upper slope are relatively enriched in lithogenic matter and trace metals, suggesting the deposit of anthropogenic metals in the slope area.

The Source of Silica and Trace Metals in Particulate Matter in Framvaren Fjord

The lake and streams in the Framvarenwatershed were sampled and analyzed in September 1983.The results can be explained by the precipitation ofacid rain containing some sea salts and thedissolution of Farsundite, the dominating rock in thecatchment area. The runoff supplies the surface waterof Framvaren with silica, aluminium, manganese, iron,copper, zinc, cadmium and lead. Reasonablecalculations show that the runoff most likely is themain source for the particulate matter found insediment traps and by filtering off suspendedparticles. Thus the calculations supplement recentstudies of Skei et al. (1996).