Fractionation of trace elements and human health risk of submicron particulate matter (PM1) collected in the surroundings of coking plants

Abstract

Samples of PM1 were collected in the surroundings of coking plants located in southern Poland. Chemical fractionation provided information on the contents of trace elements As, Cd, Co, Cr, Hg, Mn, Ni, Pb, Sb and Se in all mobile (F1-F3) and not mobile (F4) fractions of PM1 in the vicinity of large sources of emissions related to energochemical processing of coal during the summer. The determined enrichment factors indicate the influence of anthropogenic sources on the concentration of the examined elements contained in PM1 in the areas subjected to investigation. The analysis of health risk for the assumed scenario of inhabitant exposure to the toxic effect of elements, based on the values of the hazard index, revealed that the absorption of the examined elements contained in the most mobile fractions of particulate matter via inhalation by children and adults can be considered potentially harmless to the health of people inhabiting the surroundings of coking plants during the summer (HI < 1). It has been estimated that due to the inhalation exposure to carcinogenic elements, i.e., As, Cd, Co, Cr, Ni and Pb, contained in the most mobile fractions (F1 + F2) of PM1, approximately four adults and one child out of one million people living in the vicinity of the coking plants may develop cancer.

Association Between Specific Indoor Air Pollutants and Pneumonia Episodes in Children Under Five in Abuja, Nigeria: A Case-control Study

“…Furthermore, pneumococcal bacteria which causes pneumonia has been shown to be more associated with BC than with PM 2.5 (Shears et al, 2020), suggesting that BC is a better indicator of harmful particulate substances from combustion sources than undifferentiated PM mass. Whilst PM 2.5 has been widely used in the literature as an indicator of indoor air pollution (Nicole AH Janssen et al, 2012;Zajusz-Zubek et al, 2017), new research is showing that it in itself contains PM 1 and BC in different proportions depending on the source (Nicole AH Janssen et al, 2012;Zajusz-Zubek et al, 2017). This nding highlights the importance to measure each pollutant and not depend on proxies or surrogate markers of the pollutants.…”

“…PM exists in different sizes usually denoted in µm, from PM 10 to PM 1 (Massey et al, 2012;Estimation, 2019). Accumulating evidence shows that PM 2.5 is dangerous to human health as it is able to penetrate nostril cilia and travel to the lungs where it can cause damage (Zajusz-Zubek et al, 2017). Particulate matter do not only differ in size but it also differs in composition depending on season and location (Massey et al, 2012;Carter et al, 2016;Estimation, 2019).…”

“…Limited studies assess the composition and effect of PM 2.5 in Nigeria on pneumonia in children. More generally, whilst the effect of PM 2.5 on health outcomes is usually been well researched globally, there is limited research on PM 1 (Zajusz-Zubek et al, 2017). PM 1 is the smallest detectable fraction of PM is possibly the most dangerous in children as it can easily by-pass air ltration systems and travel through nostrils, into lungs and blood vessels blood streams and by-pass air-ltration systems (Zajusz-Zubek et al, 2017).…”

“…More generally, whilst the effect of PM 2.5 on health outcomes is usually been well researched globally, there is limited research on PM 1 (Zajusz-Zubek et al, 2017). PM 1 is the smallest detectable fraction of PM is possibly the most dangerous in children as it can easily by-pass air ltration systems and travel through nostrils, into lungs and blood vessels blood streams and by-pass air-ltration systems (Zajusz-Zubek et al, 2017). Exposure to PM 1 , mostly outdoors have been linked to health outcome ranging from metabolic disorders, cancers, respiratory health disorders across health groups (Agudelo-Castañeda et al, 2017;Zajusz-Zubek et al, 2017;Yang et al, 2018).…”

Soluble Inorganic Arsenic Species in Atmospheric Submicron Particles in Two Polish Urban Background Sites

“…As compounds that are the most mobile in the natural environment and bioavailable to living organisms, i.e., those that are easily soluble in water will pose the greatest potential threat. A wide range of concentrations of PM-bound water-soluble As have been reported [9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17]. Generally, it was found that As in fine PM binds mainly in water-soluble compounds [10,11].…”