Journal
ATMOSPHERIC ENVIRONMENT
Volume 45, Issue 8, Pages 1497-1505Publisher
PERGAMON-ELSEVIER SCIENCE LTD
DOI: 10.1016/j.atmosenv.2010.12.053
Keywords
Metals and metalloids; Road dust; Size fractionation; Traffic-related elements; Urban pollution
Funding
- CONICET [PIP 486]
- University of Buenos Aires [UBACyT 1031]
Ask authors/readers for more resources
A study was undertaken to investigate the content of 15 elements in size classified street dust. Samples were collected in the megacity of Buenos Aires during two months at 15 sites grouped in five zones with different urban characteristics and traffic profile. Samples were sieved in four fractions (A <37 gm, 37 < B < 50 mu m, 50 < C < 75 mu m and 75 < D < 100 mu m) before elemental analysis. X-ray powder diffraction (XRD) was selected to detect major components namely, minerals, silicate glass and gypsum. Individual mineral dust particle were analyzed by a scanning electron microscopy and energy dispersive X ray analysis (SEM-EDX) showing that sulphur tended to reside on the particles surface, while Al, Ca, Mg, K. Fe and Si belonged to the lattice. Major, minor and trace elements (Al, As, Ca, Cd, Cu, Fe, Mg, Mn, Mo, Ni, Pb, S. Sb, Sn, and Zn) content was quantified by inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP OES) in the four particle size ranges. Geological elements, Fe (28-43 mg g(-1)) > Al (13-40 mg g(-1)) Ca (1.7-6.9 mg g(-1)) > Mg (2.5-5.8 mg g(-1)) together with S (0.2-1.7 mg g(-1)) exhibited the highest concentrations and the lowest variability. The mean concentrations of anthropogenic elements ranged from 5.4 (Ni) to 1530 (Zn) mu g g(-1) and significant spatial variability was observed in the order: Cd > S > Sb > Sn > As > Ni > Mo. Cluster analysis allowed differentiating two groups, one composed by elements of both geological and anthropogenic origin (Cu, Fe, Ni and Sn) and another one composed by typical traffic related elements (Cd, Mn, Pb, S. Sb and Zn). (C) 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Authors
I am an author on this paper
Click your name to claim this paper and add it to your profile.
Reviews
Recommended
No Data Available