Seasonal variations in PM10 inorganic composition in the Andean city

Abstract

Particulate matter (PM) is one of the key pollutants causing health risks worldwide. While the preoccupation for increased concentrations of these particles mainly depends on their sources and thus chemical composition, some regions are yet not well investigated. In this work the composition of chemical elements of atmospheric PM10 (particles with aerodynamic diameters ≤ 10 µm), collected at the urban and suburban sites in high elevation tropical city, were chemically analysed during the dry and wet seasons of 2017–2018. A large fraction (~ 68%) of PM10 composition in Quito, Ecuador is accounted for by water-soluble ions and 16 elements analysed using UV/VIS spectrophotometer and Inductively Coupled Plasma—Optical Emission Spectroscopy (ICP-OES). Hierarchical clustering analysis was performed to study a correlation between the chemical composition of urban pollution and meteorological parameters. The suburban area displays an increase in PM10 concentrations and natural elemental markers during the dry (increased wind intensity, resuspension of soil dust) season. Meanwhile, densely urbanized area shows increased total PM10 concentrations and anthropogenic elemental markers during the wet season, which may point to the worsened combustion and traffic conditions. This might indicate the prevalence of cardiovascular and respiratory problems in motorized areas of the cities in the developing world.

Rare-Earth Elements and Heavy Metals in Atmospheric Particulate Matter in an Urban Area

“…Heavy metals such as Fe, Zn, and Ba were present in high quantities with average concentrations of 345.25 ± 327.41, 671.76 ± 1161.33, and 167.42 ± 98.78 ng m –3 , and their maximum concentrations were found up to 1921.24, 7585.36, and 422.07 ng m –3 , respectively. The high concentrations of Fe and Zn resemble the concentrations reported in other urban locations in India, such as Delhi and Kolkata. , The high concentration of these metals may be from fabricating industries, non-exhaust vehicles, and road dust in the region. − The Ba concentration was found exceptionally higher than any previous report in India. Ba may likely be from residential biomass burning, which is prevalent in northeast India, as Ba is high in biomass. , However, heavy metals such as Cr, Mn, Ni, Cu, Rb, Sr, Zr, and Pb were found in low amounts (less than 50 ng m –3 ).…”

A review of atmospheric individual particle analyses: Methodologies and applications in environmental research

“…Inductively Coupled Plasma-Optical Emission Spectroscopy (ICP-OES) is used to measure inorganic elements (Zalakeviciute et al, 2020). Ion Chromatograph (IC) is used to measure water-soluble ions (Rodriguez et al, 2020).…”

Accute Respiratory Infections (Pneumonia) Incidence Rate in Children due to Climate Variables and Air Quality in Bogor

“…A high amount of rainfall and high humidity will escalate the wet deposition process which is the most effective mechanism for cleaning the atmosphere (Ruchiraset and Tantrakarnapa, 2020). Another factor that can increase the concentration of PM during the dry season is high surface temperature and high air temperature which results in lower air density thus PM is more easily lifted from the surface and floats in the air and accumulates due to atmospheric circulation (Zalakeviciute et al, 2020).…”