Seasonal variations in the chemical composition of particulate matter: a case study in the Po Valley. Part II: concentration and solubility of micro- and trace-elements

• Published in: Environmental science and pollution research international 2014-03, Vol.21 (6), p.4010-4022
• Main Authors: Canepari, S, Astolfi, M. L, Farao, C, Maretto, M, Frasca, D, Marcoccia, M, Perrino, C
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: air; Air masses; Air Pollutants - analysis; Air pollution; Air Pollution - statistics & numerical data; Airborne particulates; Apportionment; Aquatic Pollution; arsenic; Atmosphere; Atmospheric Protection/Air Quality Control/Air Pollution; barium; cadmium; Case studies; chemical composition; Chemical speciation; cobalt; Earth and Environmental Science; Ecotoxicology; Environment; Environmental Chemistry; Environmental Health; Environmental Monitoring; Field study; Fractionation; Heavy Metals in the Environment : Sources; Humans; Industrial emissions; Industry - statistics & numerical data; Interactions and Human Health; iron; Italy; lead; manganese; nickel; Particulate matter; Particulate Matter - analysis; Particulate Matter - chemistry; particulates; Pollutants; Pollution; Pollution dispersion; Pollution studies; Seasonal variations; Seasons; selenium; Size distribution; Solubility; strontium; toxic substances; Toxicity; Trace elements; Trace Elements - analysis; Urban areas; Waste Water Technology; Water Management; Water Pollution Control
• ISSN: 0944-1344; 1614-7499
• DOI: 10.1007/s11356-013-2298-1

Size distribution (fine and coarse fraction) and solubility distribution (extracted and residual fraction) of 20 elements (As, Ba, Be, Cd, Co, Cu, Fe, Li, Mn, Pb, Ni, Rb, S, Sb, Se, Sn, Sr, Ti, Tl, V) in atmospheric particulate matter (PM) were determined during a 5-year field study carried out in the Po Valley (peri-urban area of Ferrara, in Northern Italy). By studying the contribution of the two size fractions and the two solubility fractions to the atmospheric concentration of each element, it was possible to obtain interesting information about the variability of PM sources, to assess the role played by atmospheric stability in determining pollution episodes, and to obtain an estimate of the bio-accessible fraction. Atmospheric stability is confirmed to be one of the main causes of atmospheric pollution in this area and is to be responsible for the pronounced winter increase in both PM and elemental concentration. Long-range transport of natural and polluted air masses caused temporary increases in PM and elemental concentration, while local industrial emission seemed to play a secondary role. Regulated elements were well below their concentration limit, but many toxic elements were in the form of fine particles and soluble chemical species, more accessible to the environment, and the human body.