Particle size distributions of lead, bromine, and chlorine in urban-industrial aerosols

Abstract

A high-volume Andersen sampler has been used to measure particle size distributions for atmospheric Pb, Br, and Cl at urban control sites and near secondary lead refineries in Toronto, Canada. Bromine and Cl were measured by instrumental neutron activation analysis, while Pb was determined both by absorption spectrophotometry and by instrumental photon activation analysis. The Pb aerosol near roadsides was predominantly submicrometer in size, whereas elevated Pb concentrations in the vicinity of the refineries were attributed mainly to increases in Pb associated with larger particles which settle more rapidly. The strong correlation between Pb and Br from automobile emissions allowed an indirect estimate of nonautomotive Pb in the atmosphere near the refineries. Chlorine, although also associated with automobile emissions, appears to be derived from several additional sources. The localized contamination of residential areas, which has resulted from refinery emissions, emphasizes the importance of particle size considerations in establishing air quality standards.An increasing amount of information on the multielement content of urban aerosols has led several investigators to deduce possible trace element sources and to estimate the relative importance of such sources to ambient air quality (1-3). The additional information provided by particle size sampling done in conjunction with multielement trace analysis greatly increases the possibility of source identification, occasionally allowing one to distinguish between different sources of the same element. This has been clearly demonstrated by Martens et al. (4), who have used aero-

Assessment of exposure to metals in lead processing industries

“…Apart from Pb, the major pollutant, there were observable variations: Sb had a considerable expression in Ind1, but not in Ind2 and higher concentrations of Si were measured in Ind2. The Pb-Cl correlation, found in Ind1 for PM 2.5 , was in agreement with studies that state this as a common phenomenon in combustion processes and that usually occurs in smaller particles (Winchester et al, 1967;Paciga et al, 1975).…”

Relationships between Pb and 210Pb in aerosol and precipitation at a Semiremote Site in northern Wisconsin

“…Clearly, reliable data on the aerosol mass-size distribution and precipitation washout of Pb and z XøPb need to be obtained at sev- theoretical particle collection efficiencies owing to the low ambient TSP concentration and subsequent minimal loading of the impaction surfaces. The average mass median equivalent diameter (MMD) was found to be 0.55 #m for Pb, consistent with the general consensus that the MMD for Pb is 0.5 #m or less [Lee et al, 1972;Colovos et al, 1974;Paciga et al, 1975;Rahn, 1976;Davidson, 1977]. The average MMD was found to be 0.40 #m for 2Xøpb and 0.65 #m for 2Xøpo.…”

Source Identification of Lead Contamination in Residential and Undisturbed Soil Adjacent to a Battery Manufacturing Facility (Part I)

“…The presence of Cl and S in Pb-rich particles was consistent with automobile exhaust particulate from leaded gasoline (Biggins and Harrison, 1979;Habibi, 1973;Olson and Skogerboe, 1975;Paciga et al, 1975). Because these Pb particles were found only along the roadside, automobile exhaust was suggested as their most likely source.…”

“…The weaker correlation of Pb and Br in trailer park soil was consistent with battery facility Pb impacting trailer park soil. The weak correlations of Pb with Br and S in roadside soil were consistent with abundant Br in roadside soil and with automobile exhaust particulate from leaded gasoline (Biggins and Harrison, 1979;Habibi, 1973;Moyers et al, 1972;Olson and Skogerboe, 1975;Paciga et al, 1975), though other sources of Br and S in roadside soil were possible. Pb-to-Br ratios approximately 4 to 18× greater than that expected, due to automobile exhaust, indicated automobile exhaust was no more than a minor source of Pb in the trailer park and wooded areas.…”