Atmospheric trace element concentrations in Jerusalem,Israel

Trace elements found in aerosols were monitored in Jerusalem during the 1979 winter season utilizing an X-ray fluoresence technique. Most of the particulate mass was associated with the natural soil elements, such as Ca, Fe, K and Ti. Only a small fraction of the mass was comprised of elements clearly emitted from human sources, e.g. Pb, Br, V, Ni and Zn. An excellent correspondence was found between the enrichment factors observed in this study and those postulated for other parts of the world. However, the concentration of Ca and Sr in the Jerusalem suspended dust is substantially higher when compared with world averages of urban aerosols.     

Comparison of measured total suspended particulate matter concentrations using tapered element oscillating microbalance and a total suspended particulate sampler

A comparison of the concentration of the total suspended particulate (TSP) matter measured by the tapered element oscillating microbalance (TEOM) monitor and the isokinetic TSP samplers developed at the University of Illinois was carried out in several types of confinement livestock buildings. In a majority of the measurements done, the dust concentration measured by the TEOM monitor was lower than the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) isokinetic TSP sampler; the TEOM monitor tended to underestimate the total dust concentration by as much as 54%. The difference in measurements can be attributed to the sampling efficiency of the TEOM monitor sampling head and the loss of some semivolatile compounds and particle-bound water because of heating of the TEOM monitor sampling stream to 50 degrees C. Although several articles in the literature supported the latter argument, this study did not investigate the effect of heating the sampling stream or the effect of moisture on the relative difference in dust concentration measurements. The model that best describes the relationship between the two methods was site specific, that is, the linear regression model was applicable only to four of the sites monitored. The measured total dust concentration in livestock buildings range from approximately 300 to 4000 microg/m3; a higher correlation coefficient between TEOM-TSP and UIUC-TSP monitors was obtained in swine facilities than those obtained in a laying facility.     

Ambient air concentrations of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons,fluoride, suspended particles and particulate carbon in areas near aluminum production plants

Concentrations of airborne polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH), fluoride, suspended particles and particulate carbon were determined in four different residential areas near aluminum industries. Two of the areas were exposed to pollutants from primary aluminum production, the third area was close to a plant manufacturing electrodes for the aluminum industry while the fourth area received pollutants from the production of aluminum as well as electrodes. The sampling time was 24 h and the samples were collected every eighth day for about 16 months. The concentrations of PAH were high compared to levels in other polluted areas with industry and dense traffic. The average concentrations for benzo(a)pyrene (BaP) were above 10 ngm⁻³, which has been proposed as a guideline in some countries, at all sites. The highest air concentration of BaP measured in the present study was 160 ng m⁻³. At two of the stations the fluoride concentrations exceeded the 24-h national guideline of 25 μgm⁻³, which has been set to protect human health. In a few cases the concentrations of suspended particles were high while the levels of carbon agreed with concentrations reported in urban and residential areas in U.S.A. The concentrations varied with time and the variation was caused mainly by the changes of the meteorological conditions. The frequency distributions were skew for all components and close to logarithmic normal. PAH were well correlated with fluoride, which is an aluminum production tracer, indicating that they are of the same origin. The aluminum industry did not seem to be the main source of particulate matter and carbon in air. Apportionment studies of the organic pollutants were carried out by cluster analysis, and the results showed that the aluminum production is the main source to the PAH in ambient air in these areas.     

Influence of the residence time of street trees and their soils on trace element contamination in Paris (France)

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - With the actual increasing interest for urban soils, the evaluation of soil contamination by trace elements and the dynamics of this contamination...     

Atmospheric concentrations and dry deposition fluxes of particulate trace metals in Salvador,Bahia, Brazil

Respiratory system is the major route of entry for airborne particulates, being the effect on the human organism dependent on chemical composition of the particles, exposure time and individual susceptibility. Airborne particulate trace metals are considered to represent a health hazard since they may be absorbed into human lung tissues during breathing. Fossil fuel and wood combustion, as well as waste incineration and industrial processes, are the main anthropic sources of metals to the atmosphere. In urban areas, vehicular emissions—and dust resuspension associated to road traffic—become the most important manmade source.This work investigated the atmospheric concentrations of TSP, PM₁₀ and elements such as iron, manganese, copper and zinc, from three different sites around Salvador Region (Bahia, Brazil), namely: (i) Lapa Bus Station, strongly impacted by heavy-duty diesel vehicles; (ii) Aratu harbor, impacted by an intense movement of goods, including metal ores and concentrates and near industrial centers and; (iii) Bananeira Village located on Maré Island, a non-vehicle-influenced site, with activities such as handcraft work and fishery, although placed near the port. Results have pointed out that TSP concentrations ranged between 16.9 (Bananeira) and 354.0 μg m⁻³ (Aratu#1), while for PM₁₀ they ranged between 30.9 and 393.0 μg m⁻³, both in the Lapa Bus Station. Iron was the major element in both Lapa Station and Aratu (#1 and #2), with average concentrations in the PM₁₀ samples of 148.9, 79.6 and 205.0 ng m⁻³, respectively. Zinc, on the other hand, was predominant in samples from Bananeira, with an average concentration of 145.0 ng m⁻³ in TSP samples, since no PM₁₀ sample was taken from this site. The main sources of iron in the Lapa Station and Aratu harbor were, respectively, soil resuspension by buses and discharge of solid granaries, as fertilizers and metal ores. On the other hand, zinc and copper in the bus station were mainly from anthropic contributions, probably heavy-duty vehicle ageing and wearing actions releasing off Zn from tires and Cu from brake linings. In the Aratu harbor, the high copper concentrations found were probably due to the port's activities, as discharges of copper concentrate on its terminal, although other sources could be possible, as burning of diesel fuel on ships and heavy oil in heaters. Finally, the Bananeira site has been presented as a different profile, since this remote site has shown zinc as the most abundant element, demonstrating to have an unexpected anthropic contribution. On a mass-to-mass basis, both zinc and manganese were in high levels in the Bananeira site and their presence strongly suggest the impact of other sources, such as the Industrial Center of Aratu and/or a siderurgy plant, not far away from that location.     

Trace element concentrations in lichens near a coal-fired power plant

Samples of two different species of lichens (Parmelia caperata and Parmelia rudecta) were analyzed by instrumental neutron activation analysis (INAA) to determine the concentrations of trace elements. The relation between atmospheric concentrations of elements borne by particles and composition patterns in lichens are examined by calculating enrichment factors (EF). The lichens collect material from the atmosphere to which they have been exposed. However, they collect preferentially larger particles, which are probably deposited by impaction and/or dry deposition, but not rain or filtration. No significant differences in concentrations were observed among lichens collected at various distances ranging from 1.6 to 20 km from the plant, suggesting that the effects of plume touchdown are small compared with normal ambient concentrations of particles.     

Temporal variation of trace element concentrations in selected rainfall events at Tsukuba,Japan

Using ICP emission spectrometry, the temporal variation of the concentration of dissolved Al, Fe. Si, Mn, Zn. Cu and B in rain-water during an event was observed at Tsukuba, Japan. The relationships between trace element variations and rainfall characteristics were compared with those for major elements such as Na, K, Ca and Mg. In many cases, the concentration of minor elements was highest in the initial stage. The exception was in rain with very short duration or very strong intensity at the initial stage of rainfall.No significant relationship was observed between rainfall intensity and soluble elemental concentration, although in a few cases AI, Zn, Na and Fe showed an inverse correlation with rainfall intensity. It was found that the concentration of minor elements such as Fe, Al and Zn fluctuated, whereas those of Na and other major elements changed smoothly. This difference is considered to be caused by differences in the scavenging process of the elements as well as the heterogeneous and varying distribution of atmospheric particles which supply minor elements in rain-water.     

Air pollutant concentrations near three Texas roadways,Part I: Ultrafine particles

Vehicular emitted air pollutant concentrations were studied near three types of roadways in Austin, Texas: (1) State Highway 71 (SH-71), a heavily traveled arterial highway dominated by passenger vehicles; (2) Interstate 35 (I-35), a limited access highway north of Austin in Georgetown; and (3) Farm to Market Road 973 (FM-973), a heavily traveled surface roadway dominated by truck traffic. Air pollutants examined include carbon monoxide (CO), oxides of nitrogen (NO_x), and carbonyl species in the gas-phase. In the particle phase, ultrafine particle (UFP) concentrations (diameter < 100 nm), fine particulate matter (PM_2.5, diameter < 2.5 μm) mass and carbon content and several particle-bound organics were examined. All roadways had an upwind stationary sampling location, one or two fixed downwind sample locations and a mobile monitoring platform that characterized pollutant concentrations fall-off with increased distance from the roadways. Data reported in this paper focus on UFP while other pollutants and near-roadway chemical processes are examined in a companion paper. Traffic volume, especially heavy-duty traffic, wind speed, and proximity to the road were found to be the most important factors determining UFP concentrations near the roadways. Since wind directions were not consistent during the sampling periods, distances along wind trajectories from the roadway to the sampling points were used to study the decay characteristics of UFPs. Under perpendicular wind conditions, for all studied roadway types, particle number concentrations increased dramatically moving from the upwind side to the downwind side. The elevated particle number concentrations decay exponentially with increasing distances from the roadway with sharp concentration gradients observed within 100–150 m, similar to previously reported studies. A single exponential decay curve was found to fit the data collected from all three roadways very well under perpendicular wind conditions. No consistent pattern was observed for UFPs under parallel wind conditions. However, regardless of wind conditions, particle concentrations returned to background levels within a few hundred meters of the roadway. Within measured UFP size ranges, smaller particles (6–25 nm) decayed faster than larger ones (100–300 nm). Similar decay rates were observed among UFP number, surface, and volume.     

Seasonal and spatial changes of free and bound organic acids in total suspended particles in Guangzhou,China

The concentrations and compositions of free and bound organic acids in total suspended particles from typical urban, suburban and forest park sites of Guangzhou were determined in this study. The free form of organic acids (solvent extractable) in aerosols in Guangzhou varied with site and season. The suburban samples contained the highest contents of alkanoic, alkenoic and dicarboxylic acids. These findings were consistent with a higher supply of hydrocarbons and NOx in the suburban area. However, concentrations of aromatic acids were similar in the urban, suburban and forest park sites. Generally, winter season samples of the acids from anthropogenic sources contained more organic acids than summer season samples due to stronger removal by wet deposition in the summer. For the acids from botanic sources, the summer season samples were higher. In addition to the free acids, bound acids (solvent non-extractable) mainly formed by esterification of free acids were also found in the samples. In general, bound acids were higher than free acids. Esterification is mainly controlled by the pKa of organic acids and the atmospheric pH value. This explains why aromatic and dicarboxylic acids occur mainly as bound forms and why the samples from urban sites contained high levels of bound acids as the pH of rain water can reach 4.53.Concentrations of alkanoic and alkenoic acids in the aerosols of Guangzhou were much higher than those in the other areas studied.     

Interspecific and geographical variations of trace element concentrations in Pectinidae from European waters

Cd, Cu and Zn were analysed in the organs and tissues of the three scallop species from the Bay of Biscay, the variegated Chlamys varia L., the queen scallop Aequipecten opercularis L. and the common scallop Pecten maximus L. for interspecific comparisons. In P. maximus the greatest concentrations of Cd and Cu were found in the digestive gland, whereas the two other species showed similar levels of Cd between digestive gland and kidneys and higher renal Cu concentrations. However, the digestive gland of all Pectinidae species contained from 75% to 93% and 52% to 74% of the total body burdens of Cd and Cu, respectively. Whatever the species, kidneys displayed the highest Zn concentrations, which therefore contained from 53% to 97% of the total body burden of this metal. Also using reported results, ratios between the concentrations in the digestive gland and that in the kidneys discriminated two groups of Pectinidae: (1) the Pecten group (P. maximus, P. jacobeus and Adamussium colbecki) with a Cd ratio > or = 4, a Cu ratio > or = 1 and a Zn ratio > 20x10(-3); (2) the Chlamys group with a Cd ratio < or = 1, a Cu ratio < or = 1 and a Zn ratio < or = 6x10(-3). However, no differences in the detoxification processes in the digestive gland were found between groups in this study. 72-80% of the total Cd was found to be soluble, probably bound to metalloproteins such as metallothioneins, while Cu and Zn were mainly found associated to the insoluble fraction of the digestive gland cells whatever the species. Queen scallops from the Faroe Islands were also considered to examine variations of the metal concentrations due to the geographical origin. In this northern area, queen scallops displayed Cd concentrations 2, 4 and 6 times higher in kidneys, muscle and digestive gland, respectively, compared to those from the Bay of Biscay. Consequently, the Cd concentrations in the whole soft parts of the queen scallops were more than 6 times higher in the Faroe Islands than in the Bay of Biscay. In contrast to Cd, both Cu and Zn concentrations in the whole soft parts were 2 times lower in the Faroe Islands, suggesting lower bioavailability of these essential elements.     

Relationships between hepatic trace element concentrations, reproductive status, and body condition of female greater scaup

We collected female greater scaup (Aythya marila) on the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta, Alaska during two breeding seasons to determine if concentrations of 18 trace elements in livers and eggs were elevated and if hepatic concentrations correlated with body condition or affected reproductive status. Fifty-six percent, 5%, and 42% of females, respectively, had elevated hepatic cadmium (Cd: >3 μg g⁻¹ dry weight [dw]), mercury (Hg: >3 μg g⁻¹ dw), and selenium (Se: >10 μg g⁻¹ dw). Somatic protein and lipid reserves were not correlated with hepatic Cd or Hg, but there was a weak negative correlation between protein and Se. Hepatic Cd, Hg, and Se were similar in females that had and had not initiated egg production. In a sample of six eggs, 33% and 100%, respectively, contained Se and Hg, but concentrations were below embryotoxicity thresholds. We conclude that trace element concentrations documented likely were not adversely impacting this study population.     

Atmospheric concentrations of PM2.5 trace elements in the Seoul urban area of South Korea

Fine particles (PM2.5) were collected during all four seasons, from April 2001 to February 2002, in Seoul, South Korea, using an annular denuder system. Elemental compositions of ambient PM2.5 were analyzed using the proton-induced X-ray emission method. The greatest contributors (> or = 2%) to the PM2.5 mass were sulfur (S), silicon (Si), chlorine (Cl), aluminum (Al), and iron (Fe) in the spring; S in the summer; and S and Cl in the fall. S, Cl, and Si were the major elements in the winter. S was the most abundant species among the elements, ranging from 5.3 to 7.9%, followed by Si and Cl. From analysis of variance, PM2.5 mass, Al, Si, potassium, calcium, and Fe showed significant seasonal differences during the four seasons (p < 0.001). Enrichment factor (EF) analysis was carried out to identify the sources affecting the aerosol in the Seoul area. On the basis of the mean EF values, elemental S, copper, zinc, and lead may be emitted from anthropogenic sources (EF > 50). Elemental Al, Si, titanium, and Fe may be emitted from crustal sources (EF < 3). Additionally, a correlation analysis was carried out for source identification. The results of the correlation analysis were confirmed by the results of the EF analysis.     

Atmospheric pollution in an urban environment by tree bark biomonitoring--part I: trace element analysis

Tree bark has been shown to be a useful biomonitor of past air quality because it accumulates atmospheric particulate matter (PM) in its outermost structure. Trace element concentrations of tree bark of more than 73 trees allow to elucidate the impact of past atmospheric pollution on the urban environment of the cities of Strasbourg and Kehl in the Rhine Valley. Compared to the upper continental crust (UCC) tree barks are strongly enriched in Mn, Ni, Cu, Zn, Cd and Pb. To assess the degree of pollution of the different sites in the cities, a geoaccumulation index I_geo was applied. Global pollution by V, Ni, Cr, Sb, Sn and Pb was observed in barks sampled close to traffic axes. Cr, Mo, Cd pollution principally occurred in the industrial area. A total geoaccumulation index I_GEO-tot was defined; it is based on the total of the investigated elements and allows to evaluate the global pollution of the studied environment by assembling the I_geo indices on a pollution map.     

Atmospheric trace element deposition: principal component analysis of ICP-MS data from moss samples

Data from a Norwegian survey on atmospheric deposition, including 33 elements in 495 moss samples collected in 1990, are presented. The biomonitor moss used was Hylocomium splendens, and the analyses were carried out by ICP-MS. Principal component analysis is used to identify possible sources of the elements determined in the mosses. Dominant factors represent long-range atmospheric transported elements (Bi, Pb, Sb, Mo, Cd, V, As, Zn, Tl, Hg, Ga), windblown mineral particles (Y, La, Al, Li, U, Th, Ga, Fe, V, Cr), local emission sources (Ni, Cu, Co, and As; Zn, Cd, and Hg; Fe, Cr, and Al), transport from the marine environment (Mg, B, Na, Sr, Ca), and contribution from higher plants (Cs, Rb, Ba, Mn). Comparison of the results with similar surveys from 1977 and 1985 show a decreasing contribution of most long-range transported elements to southern Norway.     

Fine,ultrafine and nanoparticle trace element compositions near a major freeway with a high heavy-duty diesel fraction

Trace elements and metals in the ultrafine (<0.18 μm) and accumulation (0.18–2.5 μm) particulate matter (PM) modes were measured during the winter season, next to a busy Southern California freeway with significant (∼20%) diesel traffic. Both ambient and concentrated size-segregated impactor samples were taken in order to collect enough mass for chemical analysis. Data at this location were compared to a site located 1 mile downwind of the freeway, which was reflective of urban background. The most abundant trace elements in the accumulation mode detected by inductively coupled plasma mass spectroscopy (ICPMS) were S (138 ng m⁻³), Na (129 ng m⁻³), and Fe (89 ng m⁻³) while S (35 ng m⁻³) and Fe (35 ng m⁻³) were the most abundant in the ultrafine mode. The concentrations of several trace elements, including Mg, Al, and Zn, and in particular Ca, Cu, and Pb, did not uniformly increase with size within fine PM, an indication that various roadway sources exist for these elements. Calculation of crustal enrichment factors for the two sites indicates that the freeway traffic contributed to enriched levels of ultrafine Cu, Ba, P and Fe and possibly Ca. The results of this study show that trace elements constitute a small fraction of PM mass in the nanoparticle size range, but these can and should be characterized due to their likely importance to human health.     

Inorganic element concentrations in near surface aerosols sampled on the northwest slopes of Mount Kenya

Eight trace elements, Si, Cl, K, Ca, Ti, Mn, Fe and Zn in the near-ground atmospheric aerosols were evaluated in the northwestern part of Mount Kenya using a dichotomous sampler and an EDXRF spectrometer. The samples were taken at 2 sites situated in Nanyuki area, which is roughly on the Equator. The sampler segregated the aerosol into two aerodynamic diameter (ad) size fractions, fine (<3.5 μm ad) and coarse (>3.5 and <18 μm ad). The elemental concentrations in the two size fractions were quantified and the elements assigned to known sources. Local wind blown dust related to agricultural activities and fire burning was found to dominate the lower tropospheric aerosols. There was inconclusive evidence of long range-transported aerosols being moved by night transport from the middle to the lower parts of the troposphere. Influence of the Indian Ocean marine aerosol was suggested but conclusive evidence was lacking.     

Comparison of trace element concentrations in livers of diseased, emaciated and non-diseased southern sea otters from the California coast

Infectious diseases have been implicated as a cause of high rates of adult mortality in southern sea otters. Exposure to environmental contaminants can compromise the immuno-competence of animals, predisposing them to infectious diseases. In addition to organic pollutants, certain trace elements can modulate the immune system in marine mammals. Nevertheless, reports of occurrence of trace elements, including toxic heavy metals, in sea otters are not available. In this study, concentrations of 20 trace elements (V, Cr, Mn, Co, Cu, Zn, Rb, Sr, Mo, Ag, Cd, In, Sn, Sb, Cs, Ba, Hg, Tl, Pb, and Bi) were measured in livers of southern sea otters found dead along the central California coast (n = 80) from 1992 to 2002. Hepatic concentrations of trace elements were compared among sea otters that died from infectious diseases (n = 27), those that died from non-infectious causes (n = 26), and otters that died in emaciated condition with no evidence of another cause of death (n = 27). Concentrations of essential elements in sea otters varied within an order of magnitude, whereas concentrations of non-essential elements varied by two to five orders of magnitude. Hepatic concentrations of Cu and Cd were 10- to 100-fold higher in the sea otters in this study than concentrations reported for any other marine mammal species. Concentrations of Mn, Co, Zn, and Cd were elevated in the diseased and emaciated sea otters relative to the non-diseased sea otters. Elevated concentrations of essential elements such as Mn, Zn, and Co in the diseased/emaciated sea otters suggest that induction of synthesis of metallothionein and superoxide dismutase (SOD) enzyme is occurring in these animals, as a means of protecting the cells from oxidative stress-related injuries. Trace element profiles in diseased and emaciated sea otters suggest that oxidative stress mediates the perturbation of essential-element concentrations. Elevated concentrations of toxic metals such as Cd, in addition to several other organic pollutants, may contribute to oxidative stress-meditated effects in sea otters.     

Levels of total suspended particulate matter and major trace elements in Kosovo: a source identification and apportionment study

Concentration levels of total suspended particles (TSP) and 27 major, minor and trace elemental components were determined at four sites in Kosovo through a 1-year survey (January-December 2002). Ambient concentrations were evaluated in comparison to limit values. The origin of elemental TSP constituents was investigated by calculating enrichment factors and diagnostic ratios. Multivariate statistics, such as hierarchical cluster analysis and factor analysis, were also employed to identify emission sources. A multivariate statistical receptor model (Absolute Principal Component Analysis, APCA) was applied to quantify source contributions. Soil dust, cement production, vehicular emissions, brake wear, and fuel combustion were identified as major sources with variable contributions at the four sampling sites.     

Using trace element concentrations in Corbicula fluminea to identify potential sources of contamination in an urban river

We used the biomonitor, Corbicula fluminea, to investigate the contributions of trace elements associated with different point sources and land uses in a large river. Trace elements were analyzed in tissues of clams collected from 15 tributary streams draining five land use or point source types: agriculture, forest, urban, coal-fired power plant (CFPP), and wastewater (WWTP). Clams from forested catchments had elevated Hg concentrations, and concentrations of arsenic and selenium were highest (5.0+/-0.2 and 13.6+/-0.9 microg g(-1) dry mass (DM), respectively) in clams from CFPP sites. Cadmium concentrations were significantly higher in clams from urban and CFPP sites (4.1+/-0.2 and 3.6+/-0.9 microg g(-1) DM, respectively). Non-metric multidimensional scaling (NMS) of tissue concentrations in clams clustered at CFPP and forest/agriculture sites at opposite ends of the ordination space, and the distribution of sites was driven by Cu, Zn, Cd, and Hg.