Testing the Bergerhoff method to determine the bulk deposition loads of 49 elements

The suitability of the simple and rather cheap Bergerhoff method for the determination of bulk deposition loads of 49 elements was tested. The method is suitable for the following elements: Ag, Al, As, Ba, Be, Bi, Ca, Cd, Ce, Co, Cr, Cs, Cu, Fe, Ga, Ge, In, K, La, Li, Mg, Mn, Mo, Na, Nb, Ni, Pb, Rb, S, Sb, Sc, Se, Sn, Sr, Th, Ti, Tl, V, W, Y and Zn provided that for some of these elements one does not get total recovery with HNO₃-digestion. This, nevertheless, supplies sufficient information for most concerns. Analytical problems were encountered for the following elements: U and Te concentrations in our samples were close to the blanks; P and Ta were highly variable within the sampling areas; B, Hf and Zr leached out of the glass of the digestion vessels; Hg is highly volatile.Field studies at three background sites in Switzerland, two on the northern side of the Alps and one in the southern Alps, showed higher burdens of element emissions in the latter, partly because of higher precipitation, and partly because of higher concentrations in the dust. An anthropogenic influence can be inferred for Ag, Bi, Cd, Cu, Hg, Mo, Pb, Sb, Te, W and Zn and probably also for As, P, S (with associated Se) and Sn.     

Heavy metals in urban soils of East St. Louis, IL, Part I: Total concentration of heavy metals in soils

The city of East St. Louis, IL, has a history of abundant industrial activities including smelters of ferrous and non-ferrous metals, a coal-fired power plant, companies that produce organic and inorganic chemicals, and petroleum refineries. A protocol for soil analysis was developed to produce sufficient information on the extent of heavy metal contamination in East St. Louis soils. Soil cores representing every borough of East St. Louis were analyzed for heavy metals--As, Cd, Cu, Cr, Hg, Ni, Pb, Sb, Sn, and Zn. The topsoil contained heavy metal concentrations as high as 12.5 ppm Cd, 14,400 ppm Cu, ppm quantities of Hg, 1860 ppm Pb, 40 ppm Sb, 1130 ppm Sn, and 10,360 ppm Zn. Concentrations of Sb, Cu, and Cd were well correlated with Zn concentrations, suggesting a similar primary industrial source. In a sandy loam soil from a vacated rail depot near the bank of the Mississippi River, the metals were evenly distributed down to a 38-cm depth. The clay soils within a half-mile downwind of the Zn smelter and Cu products company contained elevated Cd (81 ppm), Cu (340 ppm), Pb (700 ppm), and Zn (6000 ppm) and displayed a systematic drop in concentration of these metals with depth. This study demonstrates the often high concentration of heavy metals heterogeneously distributed in the soil and provides baseline data for continuing studies of heavy metal soil leachability.     

Heavy Metals in Urban Soils of East St. Louis,IL, Part I: Total Concentration of Heavy Metals in Soils

ABSTRACT

The city of East St. Louis, IL, has a history of abundant industrial activities including smelters of ferrous and non-ferrous metals, a coal-fired power plant, companies that produce organic and inorganic chemicals, and petroleum refineries. A protocol for soil analysis was developed to produce sufficient information on the extent of heavy metal contamination in East St. Louis soils. Soil cores representing every borough of East St. Louis were analyzed for heavy metals—As, Cd, Cu, Cr, Hg, Ni, Pb, Sb, Sn, and Zn. The topsoil contained heavy metal concentrations as high as 12.5 ppm Cd, 14,400 ppm Cu, ppm quantities of Hg, 1860 ppm Pb, 40 ppm Sb, 1130 ppm Sn, and 10,360 ppm Zn. Concentrations of Sb, Cu, and Cd were well correlated with Zn concentrations, suggesting a similar primary industrial source. In a sandy loam soil from a vacated rail depot near the bank of the Mississippi River, the metals were evenly distributed down to a 38-cm depth. The clay soils within a half-mile downwind of the Zn smelter and Cu products company contained elevated Cd (81 ppm), Cu (340 ppm), Pb (700 ppm), and Zn (6000 ppm) and displayed a systematic drop in concentration of these metals with depth. This study demonstrates the often high concentration of heavy metals heterogeneously distributed in the soil and provides baseline data for continuing studies of heavy metal soil leachability.     

Influence of extreme pollution on the inorganic chemical composition of some plants.

Leaves of nine different plant species (terrestrial moss: Hylocomium splendens and Pleurozium schreberi, blueberry: Vaccinium myrtillus, cowberry: Vaccinium vitis-idaea, crowberry: Empetrum nigrum, birch: Betula pubescens, willow: Salix spp., pine: Pinus sylvestris, and spruce: Picea abies) have been collected from up to nine catchments (size 14-50 km2) spread over a 1,500,000 km2 area in northern Europe. Additional soil samples were taken from the O-horizon and the C-horizon at each plant sample site. All samples were analysed for 38 elements (Ag, Al, As, B, Ba, Be, Bi, Ca, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Hg, K, Li, Mg, Mn, Mo, Na, Ni, P, Pb, Rb, S, Sb, Sc, Se, Si, Sn, Sr, Th, Tl, U, V, Y, Zn, and Zr) by ICP-MS, ICP-AES or CV-AAS (Hg) techniques. One of the 9 catchments was located directly adjacent (5-10 km S) to the nickel smelter and refinery at Monchegorsk, Kola Peninsula, Russia. The high levels of pollution at this site are reflected in the chemical composition of all plant leaves. However, it appears that each plant enriches (or excludes) different elements. Elements emitted at trace levels, such as Ag, As and Bi, are relatively much more enriched in most plants than the major pollutants Ni, Cu and Co. The very high levels of SO2 emissions are generally not reflected by increases in plant total S-content. Several important macro-(P) and micro-nutrients (Mn, Mg, and Zn) are depleted in most plant leaves collected near Monchegorsk.     

Assessment of elemental composition and properties of copper smelter-affected dust and its nano- and micron size fractions

A comprehensive approach has been developed to the assessment of composition and properties of atmospherically deposited dust in the area affected by a copper smelter. The approach is based on the analysis of initial dust samples, dynamic leaching of water soluble fractions in a rotating coiled column (RCC) followed by the determination of recovered elements and characterization of size, morphology and elemental composition of nano-, submicron, and micron par ticles of dust separated using field-flow fractionation in a RCC. Three separated size fractions of dust (<0.2, 0.2–2, and >2 μm) were characterized by static light scattering and scanning electron microscopy, whereupon the fractions were analyzed by ICP-AES and ICP-MS (after digestion). It has been evaluated that toxic elements, which are characteristics for copper smelter emissions (As, Cu, Zn), are accumulated in fraction >2 μm. At the same time, up to 2.4, 3.1, 8.2, 6.7 g/kg of As, Cu, Zn, Pb, correspondently, were found in nanoparticles (<0.2 μm). It has been also shown that some trace elements (Sn, Sb, Ag, Bi, and Tl) are accumulated in fraction <0.2, and their content in this fraction may be one order of magnitude higher than that in the fraction >2 μm, or the bulk sample. It may be assumed that Sn, Sb, Ag, Bi, Tl compounds are adsorbed onto the finest dust particles as compared to As, Cu, Zn compounds, which are directly emitted from the copper smelter as microparticles.

     

The intestinal parasite Pomphorhynchus laevis (Acanthocephala) from barbel as a bioindicator for metal pollution in the Danube River near Budapest, Hungary

Concentrations of As, Al, Ag, Ba, Bi, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Ga, Mg, Mn, Ni, Pb, Sb, Sn, Sr, Tl, V and Zn were analyzed by inductively coupled mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) in the intestinal helminth Pomphorhynchus laevis and its host Barbus barbus. The fish were caught in the Danube river downstream of the city of Budapest (Hungary). Ten out of twenty one elements analyzed were found at higher concentrations in the acanthocephalan than in different tissues (muscle, intestine, liver and kidney) of barbel. Considering the fish tissues, most of the elements were present at highest concentrations in liver, followed by kidney, intestine and muscle. Spearman correlation analyses indicate that there is competition for metals between the parasites and the host. The negative relationships between parasite number and metal levels in organs of the barbel support this hypothesis. The bioconcentration factors for Ag, As, Ba, Bi, Cu, Ga, Mn, Pb, Sr, Tl, and Zn showed that the parasites concentrated metals to a higher degree than the fish tissues. They accumulated the metals As, Cd, Cu, Fe, Ni, Pb, Sr and Zn even better than established bioindicators such as the mussel Dreissena polymorpha as revealed by data from the literature. The results presented here emphasize that acanthocephalans of fish are very useful as sentinels for metal pollution in aquatic ecosystems. Ratio of metal concentrations in the parasites and the host tissues provide additional information. Not including acanthocephalans in accumulation bioindication studies with fishes (as still customarily done) may lead to false results.     

Analysis of essential and non-essential trace elements in the organs of a mother–fetus pair of spotted seals (Phoca largha) from the Sea of Japan

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Concentrations of 22 essential and non-essential trace elements (Be, Al, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, As, Se, Mo, Ag, Cd, Sb, Ba, Tl, Pb, Th, U, and...     

Relationship between heavy metals concentrations in egret species,their environment and food chain differences from two Headworks of Pakistan

Concentration of ten metals (Cd, Cr, Co, Cu, Fe, Li, Mn, Ni, Pb and Zn) were analyzed in the egg contents, prey and soil samples of little egret (Egretta garzetta) and cattle egret (Bubulcus ibis) from two Headworks to determine habitat and species-specific differences; to assess the importance of prey and habitat contamination as an exposure source for heavy metals. Concentration of Cu, Mn, Cr and Pb in egg contents, Fe, Co, Cu, Mn, Zn in prey and Fe, Co, Cu, Ni, Li in surface soils were significantly different (P < 0.05). Mean metal concentrations of Cr, Pb and Cd were relatively higher in little egret whereas Cu and Mn were higher in the egg contents of cattle egret. The mean concentrations of Cu, Mn and Zn were higher in prey samples of cattle egrets and Cr, Cd and Pb in prey samples of little egrets. In soil samples collected from little egret heronries metal concentrations were higher except Cu and Ni. Correlation Analysis and Hierarchical Agglomerative Cluster Analysis (HACA) identified relatively similar associations of metals and their source identification. Metals such as Fe, Cu, Mn, and Li were related with geochemical origin from parent rock material as well as anthropogenic input whereas Cr, Cd, Pb, Ni, Co and Zn were associated mostly with anthropogenic activities. The study suggested that eggs are useful bio-monitor of local heavy metal contamination.     

Source origin of trace elements in PM from regional background,urban and industrial sites of Spain

Despite their significant role in source apportionment analysis, studies dedicated to the identification of tracer elements of emission sources of atmospheric particulate matter based on air quality data are relatively scarce. The studies describing tracer elements of specific sources currently available in the literature mostly focus on emissions from traffic or large-scale combustion processes (e.g. power plants), but not on specific industrial processes. Furthermore, marker elements are not usually determined at receptor sites, but during emission. In our study, trace element concentrations in PM₁₀ and PM_2.5 were determined at 33 monitoring stations in Spain throughout the period 1995–2006. Industrial emissions from different forms of metallurgy (steel, stainless steel, copper, zinc), ceramic and petrochemical industries were evaluated. Results obtained at sites with no significant industrial development allowed us to define usual concentration ranges for a number of trace elements in rural and urban background environments. At industrial and traffic hotspots, average trace metal concentrations were highest, exceeding rural background levels by even one order of magnitude in the cases of Cr, Mn, Cu, Zn, As, Sn, W, V, Ni, Cs and Pb. Steel production emissions were linked to high levels of Cr, Mn, Ni, Zn, Mo, Cd, Se and Sn (and probably Pb). Copper metallurgy areas showed high levels of As, Bi, Ga and Cu. Zinc metallurgy was characterised by high levels of Zn and Cd. Glazed ceramic production areas were linked to high levels of Zn, As, Se, Zr, Cs, Tl, Li, Co and Pb. High levels of Ni and V (in association) were tracers of petrochemical plants and/or fuel-oil combustion. At one site under the influence of heavy vessel traffic these elements could be considered tracers (although not exclusively) of shipping emissions. Levels of Zn–Ba and Cu–Sb were relatively high in urban areas when compared with industrialised regions due to tyre and brake abrasion, respectively.     

Use of mosses (Hylocomium splendens and Pleurozium schreberi) as biomonitors of heavy metal deposition: from relative to absolute deposition values

Concentrations of 48 elements in the ground growing mosses Hylocomium splendens and Pleurozium schreberi have been compared with wet deposition data for the same elements at 13 Norwegian sites. Significant positive correlations were found for V, Fe, Co, As, Y, Mo, Cd, Sb, Ce, Sm, Er, Tl and Pb in Hylocomium splendens, and for Mg, V, Fe, Co, As, Se, Y, Mo, Cd, Sb, Tl and Pb in Pleurozium schreberi. Regression equations for transforming moss concentration data to absolute deposition rates have been calculated for those of the above elements which are of interest from a pollution point of view. The concentration levels of Li, Be, Mg, Ca, Zn, Ge, As, Se, Sr, Y, Zr, Sn, Cs, Ba, La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Sm, Ho, Yb, Hf, Ta and U were similar in the two moss species. Hylocomium splendens had highest concentrations of Cr, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Ga, Nb, Mo, Sb, Eu, Gd, Tb, Dy, Er, Tm, Lu, W, Tl, Pb and Th, whereas V, Mn, Rb and Cd were highest in Pleurozium schreberi. No variations were observed in the concentrations of the studied elements during the sampling season.     

Arsenic and Mn levels in Isaza (Gymnogobius isaza) during the mass mortality event in Lake Biwa, Japan

The present study measured the concentrations of 25 elements (Li, Mg, V, Cr, Mn, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, As, Se, Rb, Sr, Mo, Ag, Cd, In, Sn, Sb, Cs, Ba, Hg, Tl, Pb and Bi) in the whole body of Isaza which is an endemic fish species to Lake Biwa, Japan, and compared the values in the specimens from the mass mortality Isaza (MMI) and normal fresh Isaza (NFI). The mean levels of Mn and total As (T-As) were relatively higher in MMI than in NFI. In the T-As, highly toxic inorganic As was detected in MMI. Moreover we found Mn and As concentrations in surface sediment were extremely high and temporally increased. From all these results, we could infer that the dissolution of Mn and As from surface sediment of Lake Biwa might have been one of the cause for the mass mortality of Isaza.     

Specific accumulation of cadmium and other trace elements in Sarcodon imbricatus using ICP-MS with a chemometric approach

Fungi can effectively accumulate various metallic elements, metalloids and non-metals in fruiting bodies. This study provides information on the accumulation of Ag, As, Ba, Cd, Co, Cs, Cu, Cr, Li, Mn, Ni, Pb, Rb, Sr, V, Tl, U and Zn in the edible mushroom Sarcodon imbricatus (L.) P. Karst. using the technique of inductively coupled plasma – mass spectrometry with a dynamic reaction cell mode. Mushrooms were foraged from four regions in Poland. Baseline concentrations of minerals, expressed in mg kg^?1 dry biomass (db), were in the composite samples of caps in the range: for Ag (0.27–0.29), As (1.0–1.9), Ba (0.31–0.45), Cd (4.5–6.3), Co (0.23–1.9), Cu (28–35), Cr (0.19–0.29), Cs (20–38), Li (0.013–0.020), Mn (5.9–8.8), Ni (0.81–1.4), Pb (0.94–1.6), Rb (490–700), Sr (0.14–0.19), Tl (0.058–0.11), U (0.002–0.002), V (0.044–0.054) and Zn (140–160). Concentration levels of Ag, As, Cd, Cs, Pb and Zn were higher in caps than in stipes of S. imbricatus, whereas for other elements the distribution between caps and stipes was nearly equal or for some differed depending on the location. Certainly, the content of toxic Cd in S. imbricatus was elevated (0.45–0.63 mg kg^?1 in fresh caps) and therefore eating this mushroom could increase exposure to Cd. In addition, the content of toxic As in S. imbricatus was elevated.     

Status of metal levels and their potential sources of contamination in Southeast Asian rivers

To assess the concentration and status of metal contaminants in four major Southeast Asian river systems, water were collected from the Tonle Sap–Bassac Rivers (Cambodia), Citarum River (Indonesia), lower Chao Phraya River (Thailand), and Saigon River (Vietnam) in both dry and wet seasons. The target elements were Be, Al, Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, As, Se, Mo, Ag, Cd, Ba, Tl, and Pb and the concentrations exceeded the background metal concentrations by 1- to 88-fold. This distinctly indicates enrichment by human urban area activities. The results of a normalization technique used to distinguish natural from enriched metal concentrations confirmed contamination by Al, Cd, Co, Mn, Ni, Pb, and Zn. Cluster analysis revealed the probable source of metals contamination in most sampling sites on all rivers studied to be anthropogenic, including industrial, commercial, and residential activities. Stable lead isotopes analyses applied to track the sources and pathways of anthropogenic lead furthermore confirmed that anthropogenic sources of metal contaminated these rivers. Discharges of wastewater from both industrial and household activities were major contributors of Pb into the rivers. Non-point sources, especially road runoff and street dust, also contributed contamination from Pb and other metals.     

Air dispersion of heavy metals in the vicinity of the As-Sb-Tl abounded mine and responsiveness of moss as a biomonitoring media in small-scale investigations

A systematic study was carried out to investigate air deposition and to explore the natural distribution and enrichment (contamination) with trace elements in the small area (cca. 13 km²) of an antimony-arsenic-thallium mineralization outcrop at an abandoned mine “Allchar.” The mine is located on the northwestern part of Ko?uf Mount, Republic of Macedonia. The locality of Allchar is unique in its mineral composition; besides a very intriguing mineral, lorandite, there are 45 other minerals, some of which are rare. The distribution of 53 elements (with special attention to As, Sb, and Tl) were detected in 69 moss samples from eight various species collected from this area. Moss samples were analyzed following microwave digestion by inductively coupled plasma–mass spectrometry and inductively coupled plasma–atomic emission spectrometry. It was found that the atmospheric deposition for As in the moss samples on or around the Allchar mine is >6.5 times higher and for Tl is 19 times higher compared to values for the samples from the rest of the Allchar area. By the application of multivariate cluster and R-mode factor analyses (FA), five geochemical associations were determined. Cluster and R-mode FA were used to identify and characterize element associations, and five associations of elements were determined by the method of multivariate statistics. F1 (Co, Cr, Fe, Sc, Li, V, Ga, Y, Ni, Mn, Al, La-Lu, Cu, Ge, Be, Bi, and Hf); F2 (As, Tl, Sb, and Mg); F3 (Rb, Cs, and Mo); F4 (Sr, Ba, Hf, Zr, La-Lu, and Bi), and F5 (Cd, Zn, Ag, and Cu).     

Trace element contamination of Norwegian Lake sediments

Concentrations of Sb, Hg, Bi, Cd, Mo, As, Co, Ni, Cr, Cu, V, Pb and Zn in surface and preindustrial sediments from 210 lakes in Norway were used for studying modern atmospheric depositions of these elements. Surface sediments had considerably higher concentrations of Sb, Hg, Bi, Cd, As, Pb than preindustrial sediments. The differences decreased with latitude and altitude. A multivariate analysis including the trace elements and the major constituents (organic matter, Si, Al, Fe and Mn) of surface sediments suggested the following relationships: Sb, Hg, Bi, As, and Pb formed a group with strong associations to organic matter. Ni, Cr and Cu formed a second group, weakly associated to the inorganic sediment fraction (Si and Al). Zn and Cd formed a third group with weak associations to organic matter. Co was associated to Mn, whereas Mo and V showed no important covariations with any other trace elements or major components.     

Use of sequential extraction to assess metal partitioning in soils

The state of heavy metal pollution and the mobility of Cd, Cu, Ni, Cr, Pb and Zn were studied in three texturally different agricultural soil profiles near a Cu-Ni smelter in Harjavalta, Finland. The pseudo-total concentrations were determined by an aqua regia procedure. Metals were also determined after division into four fractions by sequential extraction with (1) acetic acid (exchangeable and specifically adsorbed metals), (2) a reducing agent (bound to Fe/Mn hydroxides), (3) an oxidizing agent (bound to soil organic matter) and (4) aqua regia (bound to mineral structures). Fallout from the smelter has increased the concentrations of Cd, Cu and Ni in the topsoil, where 75-90% of Cd, 49-72% of Cu and 22-52% of Ni occurred in the first two fractions. Slight Pb and Zn pollution was evident as well. High proportions of mobile Cd, Cu and Ni also deeper in the sandy soil, closest to the smelter, indicated some downward movement of metals. The hydroxide-bound fraction of Pb dominated in almost all soils and horizons, while Ni, Cr and Zn mostly occurred in mineral structures. Aqua regia extraction is usefully supplemented with sequential extraction, particularly in less polluted soils and in soils that exhibit substantial textural differences within the profiles.     

Magnetic signature,geochemistry, and oral bioaccessibility of “technogenic” metals in contaminated industrial soils from Sindos Industrial Area,Northern Greece

The objective of this study was to assess the contamination level of potentially harmful elements (PHEs) in industrial soils and how this relates to environmental magnetism. Moreover, emphasis was given to the determination of the potential mobile fractions of typically “technogenic” metals. Therefore, magnetic and geochemical parameters were determined in topsoils (0–20 cm) collected around a chemical industry in Sindos Industrial Area, Thessaloniki, Greece. Soil samples were presented significantly enriched in “technogenic” metals such Cd, Pb, and Zn, while cases of severe soil contamination were observed in sampling sites north-west of the industrial unit. Contents of Cd, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb, Mo, Sb, Sn, and Zn in soils and pollution load index (PLI) were highly correlated with mass specific magnetic susceptibility (χ _lf). Similarly, enrichment factor (EF) and geoaccumulation index (I _geo) for “technogenic” Pb and Zn exhibited high positive correlation factors with χ _lf. Principal component analysis (PCA) classified PHEs along with the magnetic variable (χ _lf) into a common group indicating anthropogenic influence. The water extractable concentrations were substantially low, while the descending order of UBM (Unified BARGE Method) extractable concentrations in the gastric phase was Zn > Pb > As > Cd, yet Cd showed the highest bioaccessibility (almost 95%).

     

Multi-element composition of historical lichen collections and bark samples,indicators of changing atmospheric conditions

Thirty six element signatures were compared in historical Parmelia sulcata samples from the Natural History Museum herbarium collected over the period 1797–1967 with those recorded in the same species and tree bark sampled in 2000 from Burnham Beeches, lying 40 km west of London. Nineteen elements reached highest concentrations in herbarium samples, consistent with a pollution legacy and dust contamination in the herbarium. Healthy Parmelia sampled east and down-wind of London at a farm during peak SO₂ emissions in 1967 contained highest V, Ni, Zn, Cd, Se, Ge contents, supporting derivation from fuel combustion; the same sample was previously determined as having a low δ34S and high S and N contents. Lowest V, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Sn, Ba, Pb, Mo, Sb, Li, B, Cs, U, Th, Ga contents were recorded in a sample with a high δ34S and low S content collected in 1887 from a remote region from Ross-shire, Scotland. Se and Cd enrichment, never-the-less suggest a transboundary pollution influence. Lichen Pb concentrations from Burnham Beeches were amongst the lowest recorded in spite of lichens being collected close to roads. Herbarium samples help interpret changes in element deposition where few data exist, in spite of dust contamination.     

Trace elements in size-segregated urban aerosol in relation to the anthropogenic emission sources and the resuspension

Size segregated particulate samples of atmospheric aerosols in urban site of continental part of Balkans were collected during 6 months in 2008. Six stages impactor in the size ranges: Dp?≤?0.49 μm, 0.49?2?≈?30 %) followed by traffic (PC2, σ²?≈?20 %) that are together contributing around 50 % of elements in the investigated urban aerosol. The EF model shows that major origin of Cd, K, V, Ni, Cu, Pb, Zn, and As in the fine mode is from the anthropogenic sources while increase of their contents in the coarse particles indicates their deposition from the atmosphere and soil contamination. This approach is useful for the assessment of the local resuspension influence on element’s contents in the aerosol and also for the evaluation of the historical pollution of soil caused by deposition of metals from the atmosphere.     

Mass levels,crustal component and trace elements in PM10 in Palermo,Italy

Results concerning the levels and elemental compositions of daily PM₁₀ samples collected at four air quality monitoring sites in Palermo (Italy) are presented. The highest mean value of PM₁₀ concentrations (46 μg m⁻³, with a peak value of 158 μg m⁻³) was recorded at the Di Blasi urban station, and the lowest at Boccadifalco station (25 μg m⁻³), considered as a sub-urban background station. Seventeen elements (Al, As, Ba, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Li, Mn, Mo, Ni, Pb, Sb, Sr, U, V, Zn) were measured by ICP-MS. Al and Fe showed the highest concentrations, indicating the significant contribution of soil and resuspended mineral particles to atmospheric PM₁₀. Ba, Cr, Cu, Mn, Mo, Ni, Pb, Sb, V and Zn had higher concentrations at the three urban sampling sites than at the sub-urban background station. Besides soil-derived particles, an R-mode cluster analysis revealed a group of elements, Mo, Cu, Cr, Sb and Zn, probably related to non-exhaust vehicle emission, and another group, consisting of Ba, As and Ni, which seemed to be associated both with exhaust emissions from road traffic, and other combustion processes such as incinerators or domestic heating plants. The results also suggest that Sb, or the association Sb–Cu–Mo, offers a way of tracing road traffic emissions.