A study of dust airborne particles collected by vehicular traffic from the atmosphere of southern megalopolis Mexico City

• Published in: Environmental systems research 2019-05, Vol.8 (1), p.1-17, Article 16
• Main Authors: Rodriguez, Martin Gerardo, Heredia Rivera, Birmania, Rodriguez Heredia, Melvin, Rodriguez Heredia, Birmania, Gonzalez Segovia, Rodolfo
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Agglomerates; Agglomeration; Air; Air filters; Air quality; Aluminum; Debris; Disintegration; Dust; Dust control; Dust filters; Earth and Environmental Science; Environment; Inorganic matter; Insect; Insects; Iron; Light microscopy; Megalopolises; Microscopy; Monitoring/Environmental Analysis; Optical microscopy; Organic matter; Outdoor air quality; Particulate emissions; Particulate matter; Plant debris; Pollen; Pollution; Polymers; Polystyrene; Polystyrene resins; Sampling; Scanning electron microscopy; SEM–EDX; Silicon
• ISSN: 2193-2697; 2193-2697
• DOI: 10.1186/s40068-019-0143-3

This study was made to assess airborne dust by sampling particles trapped in car air filters (CAFs) of Mexico City. The CAFs dust was analyzed by optical microscopy and SEM–EDX. The optical microscopy revealed that the dust contains organic matter; insect and plant debris and inorganic matter; quartz sand, plastics and polystyrene. This material was classified in different sizes (from 10 µm to 76 µm). Particulate matter (PM) trapped within the filter fiber arrangements were observed by SEM–EDX. PM of Mexico City was characterized as mainly agglomerated particles and fine particles. Agglomerates were mechanically disintegrated and main components were determined finding elements such as C, O, Si, Al, Ca and Fe. An impaction test was implemented to have insights into how agglomerates probably hit the filter surface, disintegrate and reintegrate other agglomerates. Pollen particles were frequently associated with agglomerated PM; its composition was analyzed, finding Pt on its surface among others. Likewise, the insect debris presented plenty of PM adhered to its surface. This work validates that CAFs are a simple, cheap and adequate sampling approach for further urban air quality evaluations.