Airborne concentration and deposition of trace metals and metalloids in an urban area downwind of a manganese alloy plant

Özet

The evaluation of the content of metals and metalloids in particulate matter (PM) and in atmospheric depositionin areas impacted by local industries is essential from an environmental and health risk perspective. In this study,the PM10 levels and atmospheric deposition fluxes of potentially toxic metals and metalloids were quantified atthree urban sites of the Cantabrian region (northern Spain), located at different distances downwind of a Mnalloy plant. The content of Mn, V, Fe, Ni, Cu, Zn, As, Mo, Cd, Sb and Pb in PM10 and in the water-soluble andinsoluble fractions of the deposition was determined by ICP-MS. Among the studied elements, the highestconcentrations in PM10 and deposition rates were found for Mn, Fe, Zn and Pb, associated with the Mn alloyindustry, and for Cu, related to non-exhaust traffic emissions. The levels of Mn, Fe, Zn and Pb in PM10 werehigher in autumn, when the most frequent winds blow from the S-SW, whereas their highest deposition rateswere found in winter and autumn, which are characterized by high monthly average precipitations. The watersolublefraction of the atmospheric deposition of most metals increased with distance from the Mn alloy plant.The highest water-soluble fractions were found for Ni (72%), Zn (62%), Cu (60%) and Mn (49%). These resultswill be useful for the health risk assessment of the metal exposure associated with Mn alloy plants, as well as forthe evaluation of the metal burden to soil, water and ecosystems related to this industrial activity.