Galvanic manufacturing in the cities of Russia: potential source of ambient nanoparticles

• Published in: PloS one 2014-10, Vol.9 (10), p.e110573
• Main Authors: Golokhvast, Kirill S, Shvedova, Anna A
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Air Pollutants - analysis; Air Pollutants - chemistry; Air pollution; Aluminum; Astronauts; Biology and Life Sciences; Cardiovascular disease; Chromium; Composite materials; Copper; Earth science; Ecology and Environmental Sciences; Energy transmission; Engineering and Technology; Environmental protection; Environmental regulations; Industrial wastes; Iron; Laws, regulations and rules; Lead; Manufacturing; Metal Nanoparticles - analysis; Metal Nanoparticles - chemistry; Metal Nanoparticles - ultrastructure; Metallurgy; Metals; Metals - analysis; Metals - chemistry; Microscopy; Nanoparticles; Nickel; Outdoor air quality; Oxidative stress; Particle size; Particle size distribution; Particulate emissions; Particulate matter; Particulate Matter - analysis; Particulate Matter - chemistry; Physiology; Plant protection; Pollutants; Regulations; Remote sensing; Scanning electron microscopy; Sediments; Siberia; Size distribution; Spectroscopy; Toxicology; X-ray spectroscopy; Zinc
• ISSN: 1932-6203; 1932-6203
• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0110573

Galvanic manufacturing is widely employed and can be found in nearly every average city in Russia. The release and accumulation of different metals (Me), depending on the technology used can be found in the vicinities of galvanic plants. Under the environmental protection act in Russia, the regulations for galvanic manufacturing do not include the regulations and safety standards for ambient ultrafine and nanosized particulate matter (PM). To assess whether Me nanoparticles (NP) are among environmental pollutants caused by galvanic manufacturing, the level of Me NP were tested in urban snow samples collected around galvanic enterprises in two cities. Employing transmission electronic microscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, and a laser diffraction particle size analyzer, we found that the size distribution of tested Me NP was within 10-120 nm range. This is the first study to report that Me NP of Fe, Cr, Pb, Al, Ni, Cu, and Zn were detected around galvanic shop settings.