Assessment of atmospheric trace metals in the  western Bushveld Igneous Complex, South Africa

Zyl, P. G. van; Beukes, J. P.; Toit, Grizelda du; Mabaso, D.; Hendriks, Johan; Vakkari, Ville; Tiitta, Petri; Pienaar, Jacobus J.; Kulmala, Markku; Laakso, Lauri

doi:10.1590/sajs.2014/20130280

Cited by 15 publications

(15 citation statements)

References 30 publications

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“…Therefore, concentrations presented for these species are most likely to be an overestimate due to the precautionary assumption. The annual mean PM 10 trace metal concentrations at Welgegund (Table 1) were typically lower than previous studies conducted in South Africa (Kgabi, 2006;Kleynhans, 2008;Van Zyl et al, 2014). This is expected, as Welgegund is a regional background location and the previous studies were conducted at sites within two priority areas, as mentioned previously.…”

Section: Contextualisation Of Atmospheric Trace Metal Concentrationssupporting

confidence: 51%

“…The presence of these trace metal species predominantly in the smaller size fractions, especially considering the relatively large contribution in the PM 1 size fractions, indicates the influence of industrial (high-temperature) activities on air masses measured at Welgegund. Trace metal concentrations measured at Marikana, situated within the western Bushveld Igneous Complex, indicated that Cr, Mn, V, Zn and Ni occurred almost exclusively in the PM 2.5 size fraction, with no contribution by coarser particles (Van Zyl et al, 2014). The large influence of wind-blown dust on trace metal concentrations determined at Welgegund is also reflected, with approximately 30 % of most of these trace metals being present in the PM 2.5-10 size fraction.…”

Section: Size-resolved Concentrations and Size Distribution Of Trace mentioning

confidence: 92%

“…These sites were also located in two of the major source regions influencing air masses arriving at Welgegund. Marikana (Van Zyl et al, 2014) and Rustenburg (Kgabi, 2006) are situated approximately 100 km north-north-west Table 1. Annual mean PM 10 trace metal concentrations measured at Welgegund; annual average standards; and annual average trace metal levels determined in other studies in South Africa, China and Europe.…”

Section: Contextualisation Of Atmospheric Trace Metal Concentrationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…1 and the 96 h overlay back trajectories presented in Fig. S1 in the Supplement, Welgegund is situated in the interior of South Africa and is frequently affected by air masses moving over the most important anthropogenic/industrial source regions in the interior (Beukes et al, 2013;Tiitta et al, 2014;Vakkari et al, 2015;Booyens et al, 2015). Also indicated in Fig.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 98%

“…Air quality outside these priority areas is often adversely affected due to regional transport and the general climatic conditions, such as low precipitation and poor atmospheric mixing in winter. Only a few studies on the concentrations of atmospheric trace metals in South Africa have been conducted (Van Zyl et al, 2014;Kgabi, 2006;Kleynhans, 2008). In addition, most of these studies were also conducted within these priority areas containing a significant number of large point sources, and regional impacts of atmospheric trace metals could therefore not be assessed.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Atmospheric trace metals measured at a regional background site (Welgegund) in South Africa

et al. 2017

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Abstract. Atmospheric trace metals can cause a variety of health-related and environmental problems. Only a few studies on atmospheric trace metal concentrations have been conducted in South Africa. Therefore the aim of this study was to determine trace metal concentrations in aerosols collected at a regional background site, i.e. Welgegund, South Africa. PM1, PM1–2. 5 and PM2. 5–10 samples were collected for 13 months, and 31 atmospheric trace metal species were detected. Atmospheric iron (Fe) had the highest concentrations in all three size fractions, while calcium (Ca) was the second-most-abundant species. Chromium (Cr) and sodium (Na) concentrations were the third- and fourth-most-abundant species, respectively. The concentrations of the trace metal species in all three size ranges were similar, with the exception of Fe, which had higher concentrations in the PM1 size fraction. With the exception of titanium (Ti), aluminium (Al) and manganese (Mg), 70 % or more of the trace metal species detected were in the smaller size fractions, which indicated the influence of industrial activities. However, the large influence of wind-blown dust was reflected by 30 % or more of trace metals being present in the PM2. 5–10 size fraction. Comparison of trace metals determined at Welgegund to those in the western Bushveld Igneous Complex indicated that at both locations similar species were observed, with Fe being the most abundant. However, concentrations of these trace metal species were significantly higher in the western Bushveld Igneous Complex. Fe concentrations at the Vaal Triangle were similar to levels thereof at Welgegund, while concentrations of species associated with pyrometallurgical smelting were lower. Annual average Ni was 4 times higher, and annual average As was marginally higher than their respective European standard values, which could be attributed to regional influence of pyrometallurgical industries in the western Bushveld Igneous Complex. All three size fractions indicated elevated trace metal concentrations coinciding with the end of the dry season, which could partially be attributed to decreased wet removal and increases in wind generation of particulates. Principal component factor analysis (PCFA) revealed four meaningful factors in the PM1 size fraction, i.e. crustal, pyrometallurgical-related and Au slimes dams. No meaningful factors were determined for the PM1–2. 5 and PM2. 5–10 size fractions, which was attributed to the large influence of wind-blown dust on atmospheric trace metals determined at Welgegund. Pollution roses confirmed the influence of wind-blown dust on trace metal concentrations measured at Welgegund, while the impact of industrial activities was also substantiated.

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Section: Contextualisation Of Atmospheric Trace Metal Concentrationssupporting

confidence: 51%

Section: Size-resolved Concentrations and Size Distribution Of Trace mentioning

confidence: 92%

Section: Contextualisation Of Atmospheric Trace Metal Concentrationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 98%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Atmospheric trace metals measured at a regional background site (Welgegund) in South Africa

et al. 2017

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Source apportionment of fine atmospheric particles in Bloemfontein, South Africa, using positive matrix factorization

van der Westhuizen,

Howlett-Downing,

Molnár

et al. 2024

Environ Monit Assess

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Air pollution is of major health and environmental concern globally and in South Africa. Studies on the sources of PM2.5 air pollution in low- and middle-income countries such as South Africa are limited. This study aimed to identify local and distant sources of PM2.5 pollution in Bloemfontein. PM2.5 samples were collected from June 16, 2020 to August 18, 2021. Trace element concentrations were determined by EDXRF spectroscopy. By use of the US EPA PMF 5.0 program, local sources were determined to be combustion/wood burning (49%), industry (22%), soil dust (10%), base metal/pyrometallurgical and traffic (9.6%) and water treatment/industry (9.4%). The HYSPLIT program was applied to determine distant PM2.5 source areas and the following clusters were identified: Mpumalanga province (52%), Northern Cape province (35%), Indian Ocean (8%) and Atlantic Ocean (6%). The majority of the air was found to come from the Mpumalanga province in the north-east, while the majority of local sources are ascribed to combustion/wood burning. Results from this study can be used to develop an Air Quality Management Plan for Bloemfontein.

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Size-resolved characteristics of inorganic ionic species in atmospheric aerosols at a regional background site on the South African Highveld

et al. 2018

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Aerosols consist of organic and inorganic species, and the composition and concentration of these species depends on their sources, chemical transformation and sinks. In this study an assessment of major inorganic ions determined in three aerosol particle size ranges collected for one year at Welgegund in South Africa was conducted. SO4 2and ammonium (NH4 +) dominated the PM1 size fraction, while SO4 2and nitrate (NO3) dominated the PM1-2.5 and PM2.5-10 size fractions. SO4 2had the highest contribution in the two smaller size fractions, while NO3had the highest contribution in the PM2.5-10 size fraction. SO4 2and NO3levels were attributed to the impacts of aged air masses passing over major anthropogenic source regions. Comparison of inorganic ion concentrations to levels thereof within a source region influencing Welgegund, indicated higher levels of most species within the source region. However, the comparative ratio of SO4 2was significantly lower due to SO4 2being formed distant from SO2 emissions and submicron SO4 2having longer atmospheric residencies. The PM at Welgegund was determined to be acidic, mainly due to high concentrations of SO4 2-. PM1 and PM1-2.5 fractions revealed a seasonal pattern, with higher inorganic ion concentrations measured from May to September. Higher concentrations were attributed to decreased wet removal, more pronounced inversion layers trapping pollutants, and increases in 2 household combustion and wild fires during winter. Back trajectory analysis also revealed higher concentrations of inorganic ionic species corresponding to air mass movements over anthropogenic source regions.

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Assessment of atmospheric trace metals in the western Bushveld Igneous Complex, South Africa

Cited by 15 publications

References 30 publications

Atmospheric trace metals measured at a regional background site (Welgegund) in South Africa

Atmospheric trace metals measured at a regional background site (Welgegund) in South Africa

Source apportionment of fine atmospheric particles in Bloemfontein, South Africa, using positive matrix factorization

Size-resolved characteristics of inorganic ionic species in atmospheric aerosols at a regional background site on the South African Highveld

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