Toxic Metals (As, Cd, Ni and Pb) and PM2.5 in Air Concentration of a Model Ceramic Cluster

Vicente, Ana Belen; Pallares, Susana; Soriano, Amparo; Sanfeliu, Teofilo; Jordan, Manuel Miguel

Toxic Metals (As, Cd, Ni and Pb) and PM2.5 in Air Concentration of a Model Ceramic Cluster

2011

Vicente, Ana Belen | Pallares, Susana | Soriano, Amparo | Sanfeliu, Teofilo | Jordan, Manuel Miguel

The relationship between ambient concentrations of fine particulate matter and detrimental health effects remains a highly controversial issue. Increased incidence of mortality and morbidity due to cardiopulmonary complications has been associated with elevated levels of urban air particles with an aerodynamic of <2.5Â μm (PM2.5). The main aim of this paper was to present the assessment of the temporal and spatial variations of the PM2.5 fraction and its contents in arsenic, cadmium, nickel and lead in order to identify possible emission sources of these pollutants. Daily ambient aerosol samples (PM2.5) were taken in the province of Castellón from 2008 to 2009. Particle concentration levels were determined by gravimetry, and the As, Cd, Ni and Pb levels in the samples were determined by inductively coupled plasma mass spectroscopy. The season variation of these pollutants differs according to the emission source and the factors involved in dispersion. In the weekly trend, there were no significant differences in levels among sampling sites in relation to the day activity (working vs. non-working) due to chemical pollutants that are found in fine particulate fractions residing in the atmosphere longer than coarse particles, resulting in a more homogeneous concentration of pollutants over time. In order to identify similar behaviour between chemical pollutants and PM2.5, an assessment of the correlation between them was carried out. This behaviour study shows whether the source of contaminants is the same. A statistical analysis of the levels of PM2.5 and the presence of As, Cd, Ni and Pb in the different sampling sites was performed in order to evaluate the influence of the sampling point on the concentrations of these pollutants.

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