scholarly journals Physicochemical Properties of Indoor and Outdoor Particulate Matter 2.5 in Selected Residential Areas near a Ferromanganese Smelter

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (17) ◽  
pp. 8900
Author(s):  
Setlamorago Jackson Mbazima ◽  
Masilu Daniel Masekameni ◽  
Gill Nelson
Keyword(s):  
Particulate Matter ◽  
Physicochemical Properties ◽  
Elemental Composition ◽  
Inductively Coupled Plasma ◽  
Spherical Particles ◽  
Residential Areas ◽  
Polycarbonate Membrane ◽  
Inductively Coupled ◽  
Particulate Matter 2.5 ◽  
Indoor And Outdoor

Particulate matter (PM) of different sizes and elemental composition is a leading contributor to indoor and outdoor air pollution in residential areas. We sought to investigate similarities between indoor and outdoor PM2.5 in three residential areas near a ferromanganese smelter in Meyerton to apportion the emission source(s). Indoor and outdoor PM2.5 samples were collected concurrently, using GilAir300 plus samplers, at a flow rate of 2.75 L/min. PM2.5 was collected on polycarbonate membrane filters housed in 37 mm cassettes coupled with PM2.5 cyclones. Scanning electron microscopy coupled with energy-dispersive spectroscopy was used to study the morphology, and inductively coupled plasma-mass spectroscopy was used to analyse the elemental composition of the PM2.5. Mean indoor and outdoor PM2.5 mass concentrations were 10.99 and 24.95 µg/m3, respectively. Mean outdoor mass concentration was 2.27-fold higher than the indoor concentration. Indoor samples consisted of irregular and agglomerated particles, ranging from 0.09 to 1.06 µm, whereas outdoor samples consisted of irregular and spherical particles, ranging from 0.10 to 0.70 µm. Indoor and outdoor PM2.5 were dominated by manganese, silicon, and iron, however, outdoor PM2.5 had the highest concentration of all elements. The ferromanganese smelter was identified as the potential main contributing source of PM2.5 of different physicochemical properties.

scholarly journals Seasonal Variability in the Composition of Particulate Matter and the Microclimate in Cultural Heritage Areas

Atmosphere ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 10 (10) ◽  
pp. 595 ◽  
Author(s):  
Radulescu ◽  
Stihi ◽  
Ion ◽  
Dulama ◽  
Stanescu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Particulate Matter ◽  
Inductively Coupled Plasma ◽  
Chemical Compositions ◽  
Potential Health ◽  
Museum Exhibits ◽  
Inductively Coupled ◽  
Chemical Measurements ◽  
Low Concentrations ◽  
High Concentrations ◽  
Indoor And Outdoor

This study is the first attempt to decipher the effect of particulate matter (PM) composition on people’s health and on historic sites, in correlation with the daily and seasonal microclimate monitoring of the indoor and outdoor areas of the Roman Mosaic Edifice museum (the maritime port of Constanta, Romania). More specifically, the increase of metal concentrations in particulate matter during the summer of 2018 and spring of 2019 in the museum under investigation could possibly be associated with the microclimates of both seasons, with coastal factors, as well as with the anthropic activities specific to the port of Constanta. FTIR and inductively coupled plasma mass spectroscopy (ICP-MS) techniques, used for the investigation of PM2.5–10 samples, revealed high concentrations of Fe, Al-rich, and soluble particles inside the investigated museum area. In this respect, the chemical measurements of the PM2.5–10 masses highlighted high concentrations of heavy metals (i.e., Al, Fe, Zn, Mn, and Pb) and low concentrations of trace metals (i.e., Cr, Ni, Cu, and Cd). Statistical analysis showed that the chemical compositions of the particulate matter in the indoor and outdoor areas of the Roman Mosaic Edifice were influenced by microclimatic conditions, mainly temperature and relative humidity (RH). A potential health risk for tourists is the thermal and humid conditions, alongside the toxic components of the particulate matter. This research seeks to provide solutions for improving the environmental conditions inside the Roman Mosaic Edifice and to offer useful suggestions concerning health promotion and the protection of museum exhibits against possible future deterioration.

scholarly journals Using SEM-EDX and ICP-OES to Investigate the Elemental Composition of Green MacroalgaVaucheria sessilis

2014 ◽  
Vol 2014 ◽  
pp. 1-8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Izabela Michalak ◽  
Krzysztof Marycz ◽  
Katarzyna Basińska ◽  
Katarzyna Chojnacka
Keyword(s):  
Elemental Composition ◽  
Cross Section ◽  
Inductively Coupled Plasma ◽  
Algal Biomass ◽  
Optical Emission Spectroscopy ◽  
Optical Emission ◽  
Icp Oes ◽  
X Ray ◽  
Inductively Coupled ◽  
Analytical System

The biomass ofVaucheria sessilisforms algal mats in many freshwaters. There is a need to find the method of algal biomass utilization.Vaucheria sessilisis a rich source of micro- and macronutrients and can be used as a soil amendment. In the paper, the elemental composition of enriched, via bioaccumulation process, macroalga was investigated. For this purpose, two independent techniques were used: scanning electron microscopy with an energy dispersive X-ray analytical system (SEMEDX) and inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES). The biomass was exposed to two microelemental solutions, with Cu(II) and Zn(II) ions. After two weeks of the experiment, macroalga accumulated 98.5 mg of Zn(II) ions in 1 g of dry biomass and 68.9 mg g−1of Cu(II) ions. Micrographs performed by SEM proved that bioaccumulation occurred. Metal ions were bound on the surface and in the interior of cells. Mappings of all cations showed that in the case of the surface of biomass (biosorption), the elements constituted aggregations and in the case of the cross section (bioaccumulation) they were evenly distributed. The algal biomass with permanently bound microelements can find an application in many branches of the industry (feed, natural fertilizers, etc.).

scholarly journals DETERMINATION OF TRACE METALS DUE TO THE PRODUCTION AND USE OF DIESEL THROUGH THE AIR QUALITY MONITORING OF IMPACTED AREAS

2009 ◽  
Vol 06 (12) ◽  
pp. 7-14
Author(s):  
Josiane LOYOLA ◽  
Simone Lorena QUITERIO ◽  
Viviane ESCALEIRA ◽  
Graciela ARBILLA
Keyword(s):  
Particulate Matter ◽  
Inductively Coupled Plasma ◽  
Metal Content ◽  
Petroleum Industry ◽  
Optical Emission ◽  
Liquid Fuels ◽  
Total Particulate Matter ◽  
Inductively Coupled ◽  
Metal Levels ◽  
Light Duty Vehicles

The petroleum industry has difficulties to assess the trace metal content in liquid fuels. In this work, it is proposed to solve this problem determining these metals by collecting particulate matter atmospheric samples and analysing their metal content. Samples of total particulate matter and of inhalable particles (PM10) were collected in a bus station in the period August 2006-February 2007. The only significant emission source in that location are the buses, fueled by diesel, since light duty vehicles account for about 1-2% of the total vehicular flux and no other activities are developed in the area. Metal levels were determined by ICP-OES (Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectroscopy). Ca, Mg, Fe and Al were the most abundant compounds, and account for about 50.1%, 24.2%, 6.5% and 18.7%, respectively, of the metal contain. Co, Ni, Cd, Cr and Pb were under their detection limits, except for a few samples. Ca, Mg, Zn and Cu were determined in higher ratios that those currently find in crustal materials indicating that these elements may have important combustion sources and are enriched in the soil.

scholarly journals Comparison of Spider Web and Moss Bag Biomonitoring to Detect Sources of Airborne Trace Elements

2020 ◽  
Vol 231 (10) ◽  
Author(s):  
Neele van Laaten ◽  
Dirk Merten ◽  
Wolf von Tümpling ◽  
Thorsten Schäfer ◽  
Michael Pirrung
Keyword(s):  
Particulate Matter ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Inductively Coupled Plasma ◽  
Atmospheric Particulate Matter ◽  
Anthropogenic Influence ◽  
Spider Webs ◽  
Spider Web ◽  
Inductively Coupled ◽  
Mass Fractions ◽  
Moss Bags

Abstract Atmospheric particulate matter has become a major issue in urban areas from both a health and an environmental perspective. In this context, biomonitoring methods are a potential complement to classical monitoring methods like impactor samplers, being spatially limited due to higher costs. Monitoring using spider webs is compared with the more common moss bag technique in this study, focusing on mass fractions and ratios of elements and the applicability for source identification. Spider webs and moss bags with Hypnum cupressiforme were sampled at the same 15 locations with different types of traffic in the city of Jena, Germany. In the samples, mass fractions of 35 elements, mainly trace metals, were determined using inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES) and inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) after aqua regia digestion. Significantly higher mass fractions in spider webs than in moss bags were found, even after a much shorter exposure period, and could not be ascribed completely to a diluting effect by the biological material in the samples. Different mechanisms of particle retention by the two materials are therefore assumed. More significant correlations between elements have been found for the spider web dataset. Those patterns allow for an identification of different sources of particulate matter (e.g. geogenic dust, brake wear), while correlations between elements in the moss bags show a rather general anthropogenic influence. Therefore, it is recommended to use spider webs for the short-term detection of local sources while moss bag biomonitoring is a good tool to show a broader, long-term anthropogenic influence.

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