Main components of PM10 in an area influenced by a cement plant in Catalonia, Spain: Seasonal and daily variations

Abstract

Particulate matter (PM) composition has a key role in a wide range of health outcomes, such as asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, lung cancer, cardiovascular disease, and death, among others. Montcada i Reixac, a municipality located in the Barcelona metropolitan area (Catalonia, Spain), for its location and orography, is an interesting case- study to investigate air pollution. The area is also characterized by the presence of different industrial emission sources, including a cement factory and a large waste management plant, as well as an intense traffic. In this study, PM levels, trace elements, ions, and carbonaceous particles were determined for a long time period (2013-2016) in this highly polluted area. PM samples were collected during six consecutive days in two campaigns (cold and warm) per year. A number of elements (As, Ba, Be, Bi, Ca, Cd, Ce, Co, Cr, Cs, Cu, Dy, Er, Eu, Fe, Ga, Gd, Ge, Hf, Hg, Ho, K, La, Li, Hg, Mg, Mn, Mo, Nb, Nd, Ni, Pb, Pr, Rb, Sb, Sc, Se, Sm, Sn, Sr, Tb, Th, Ti, Tl, U, V, W, Y, Yb, and Zr), ions (Cl, SO, NO, and NH), and carbonaceous content (total carbon, organic plus elemental carbon, and CO), were analysed. These data were used to identify the PM main components: mineral matter, sea spray, secondary inorganic aerosols, organic matter plus elemental carbon, trace elements or indeterminate fraction. Although a clear seasonality (cold vs. warm periods) was found, there were no differences between working days and weekends. Obviously, the cement plant influences the surrounding environment. However, no differences in trace elements related with the cement plant activity (Al, Ca, Ni and V) between weekdays and weekends were noted. However, some traffic-related elements (i.e., Co, Cr, Mn, and Sb) showed significantly higher concentrations in weekdays.

Exposure effect to cement dust pollution: a mini review

“…'Clean' PM characterization has shown that certain trace elements can be traced to certain type of sources, such as Cobalt Co, Chromium (Cr), Manganese (Mn), and Antimony (Sb) to traffic, and Aluminum (Al), Calcuim (Ca), Nickel (Ni) and Vanadium (V) to cement plant. There variation or constant variation helps to estimate various effects [51]. Particle size distribution of the raw materials shows the primary source of this PM.…”

Measurements of Local Sources of Particulates with a Portable Monitor along the Coast of an Insular City

“…Such emissions are related to various diseases such as chronic obstructive pulmonary, silicosis, preterm delivery, etc., according to the relevant review [38]. In Spain, in a similar study by Rovira et al (2018), the direct effect of a cement plant on the environment was reconfirmed; PM 10 and various chemicals were identified such as mineral matter, sea spray, secondary inorganic aerosols, organic matter, elemental carbon and trace elements [39]. In the current study, only a small percentage was attributed to PM 1 (ratio PM 1 /PM 2.5 = 0.33), originating obviously from other activities that took place in parallel during the respective measurements.…”

Influence of Particulate Matter Air Pollution on Exacerbation of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Depending on Aerodynamic Diameter and the Time of Exposure in the Selected Population with Coexistent Cardiovascular Diseases

“…In our study, we assumed a mean value of pollutants concentrations as the exposure measure. Depending on the amount of time spent inside buildings, the use of air conditioning or even a small change in environment, these values might not correspond to the actual exposure of a specific individual [34,35]. The exposition differences and subsequent clinical changes were demonstrated for two locations with various characteristic in London [36].…”