Monitoring of particulate matter (PM2.5 and PM10) in San Juan city, Argentina, using active samplers and the species Tillandsia capillaris

• Published in: Environmental science and pollution research international 2021-07, Vol.28 (25), p.32962-32972
• Main Authors: Aguilera Sammaritano, Mariela Lucía, Cometto, Pablo Marcelo, Bustos, Daniel Alfredo, Wannaz, Eduardo Daniel
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Aquatic Pollution; Atmospheric models; Atmospheric Protection/Air Quality Control/Air Pollution; Biomonitoring; Biomonitors; Copper; Earth and Environmental Science; Ecotoxicology; Electric power; Electric power supplies; Emission analysis; Environment; Environmental Chemistry; Environmental Health; Environmental science; Filters; Leaves; Manganese; Particulate emissions; Particulate matter; Plant species; Principal components analysis; Regression analysis; Research Article; Samplers; Synchrotron radiation; Synchrotrons; Tillandsia; Waste Water Technology; Water Management; Water Pollution Control; X ray fluorescence analysis; X-ray fluorescence; X-rays
• ISSN: 0944-1344; 1614-7499
• DOI: 10.1007/s11356-021-13174-4

The concentration of particulate matter (PM 2.5 and PM 10 ) was studied in San Juan city, Argentina, during winter and spring of 2017. Samplers of particulate matter (PM) and individuals of the plant species Tillandsia capillaris were placed in the centre of the city to be used as a biomonitors of atmospheric particulate matter. The PM filters and PM deposited in T. capillaris leaves were analysed to measure particle concentration and concentrations of elements (K, Ca, Mn, Fe, Cu, Zn, Br, Sr, Ba and Pb) using X-ray fluorescence by synchrotron radiation (SR-XRF). Linear regression analysis showed significant positive correlations between PM concentration in the atmosphere and the particles deposited on T. capillaris leaves. The elements quantified in PM 2.5 and PM 10 filters were subjected to a principal component analysis, which showed the presence of three emission sources in the study area (soil, vehicular traffic and industry) in both fractions. It was not possible to conduct this analysis with the elements obtained from the extraction of T. capillaris leaves, since most of them are solubilised at the moment of extraction. Biomonitoring with T. capillaris might be used to estimate the concentration of particulate matter in large areas or in remote sites with no electrical power supply to run active samplers. Further studies should be carried out in other regions, and more variables should be incorporated to obtain increasingly deterministic models.