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Su WC, Lee J, Afshar M, Zhang K, Han I. Assessing community health risks from exposure to ultrafine particles containing transition metals in the Greater Houston Area. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 912:169067. [PMID: 38049001 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.169067] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2023] [Revised: 11/06/2023] [Accepted: 12/01/2023] [Indexed: 12/06/2023]
Abstract
Ultrafine particles (UFPs) in urban air environments have been an essential public health concern. The inhalation of UFPs can introduce transition metals contained in the UFP into the human airways, leading to adverse health effects. Therefore, it is crucial to investigate urban air UFP exposure and health risks induced by transition metals. This research carried out a series of field measurements to study urban air UFP exposure in the Greater Houston Area. Three sampling sites in the Greater Houston Area representing varying levels of UFP exposures were selected. The newly developed Mobile Aerosol Lung Deposition Apparatus (MALDA) which consists of a complete set of human airway replicas and a pair of UFP particle sizers was deployed in the sampling sites during three sampling timeframes (morning rush hours, noon, and afternoon rush hours) to obtain on-site UFP respiratory deposition data. UFP samples were collected at the sampling sites for metal composition analysis. The acquired UFP respiratory deposition data and UFP composition data were then used to calculate the respiratory deposited mass of transition metals and estimate the associated health risks for individuals living near sampling sites. Our results showed that transition metal-induced non-cancer risks caused by exposure to urban UFPs were within acceptable limits. The estimated lifetime excess cancer risks were generally <10-6, indicating an overall acceptable level of transition metal-induced cancer risk.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei-Chung Su
- Department of Epidemiology, Human Genetics and Environmental Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX, USA; Southwest Center for Occupational and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX, USA.
| | - Jinho Lee
- Department of Epidemiology, Human Genetics and Environmental Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Masoud Afshar
- Southwest Center for Occupational and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Kai Zhang
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University at Albany, State University of New York, Rensselaer, NY, USA
| | - Inkyu Han
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, College of Public Health, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, USA
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2
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Shen YW, Zhao CX, Zhao H, Dong SF, Xie JJ, Lv ML, Yuan CG. Decryption analysis of antimony pollution sources in PM 2.5 through a multi-source isotope mixing model based on lead isotopes. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2023; 328:121600. [PMID: 37068649 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2023.121600] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2023] [Revised: 03/16/2023] [Accepted: 04/06/2023] [Indexed: 05/09/2023]
Abstract
Antimony (Sb) in PM2.5 has attracted close attention as a new air pollutant due to its extensive use in daily life. The identification of antimony sources in PM2.5 by scientific methods is important to control its pollution. In this study, the Sb and other elements concentrations and Pb isotopic compositions in PM2.5 and possible pollution sources (soil, road dust, traffic emission, coal-fired fly ash, local factory emission dust and cement dust) were analyzed. The results showed that the Sb in the PM2.5 samples had seasonal change. The enrichment factors of Sb in PM2.5 samples were all above 100 in four seasons, which indicated anthropogenic pollution. The average value of potential ecological risk index was at extremely high-risk level greater than 320. Based on Pearson correlation coefficient and hierarchical cluster analysis results, the pollution sources of antimony and lead in PM2.5 samples were highly consistent which means that Pb isotopes might be a new and feasible tracer for Sb pollution in air. The sources analysis results based on Pb isotopes indicated that the proportion of Pb and Sb from coal-fired fly ash was the highest in winter (47.7%) and inclined to road dust in spring (34.5%), but it was mainly from traffic emissions in summer and autumn (34.2% and 32.8%). This study showed that Pb isotope tracing can be applied to predict the potential pollution sources, and it was also a feasible substitute for tracing Sb pollution in PM2.5.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yi-Wen Shen
- Hebei Key Lab of Power Plant Flue Gas Multi-Pollutants Control, Department of Environmental Science & Engineering, North China Electric Power University, Baoding, 071000, China
| | - Chang-Xian Zhao
- Hebei Key Lab of Power Plant Flue Gas Multi-Pollutants Control, Department of Environmental Science & Engineering, North China Electric Power University, Baoding, 071000, China
| | - Hao Zhao
- Hebei Key Lab of Power Plant Flue Gas Multi-Pollutants Control, Department of Environmental Science & Engineering, North China Electric Power University, Baoding, 071000, China
| | - Shuo-Fei Dong
- Agilent Technologies Co. Ltd (China), Beijing, 100102, China
| | - Jiao-Jiao Xie
- Hebei Key Lab of Power Plant Flue Gas Multi-Pollutants Control, Department of Environmental Science & Engineering, North China Electric Power University, Baoding, 071000, China
| | - Mei-Ling Lv
- Agilent Technologies Co. Ltd (China), Beijing, 100102, China
| | - Chun-Gang Yuan
- Hebei Key Lab of Power Plant Flue Gas Multi-Pollutants Control, Department of Environmental Science & Engineering, North China Electric Power University, Baoding, 071000, China; MOE Key Laboratory of Resources and Environmental Systems Optimization, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, North China Electric Power University, Beijing, 102206, China.
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3
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Xue W, Ying D, Li Y, Sheng Y, He T, Shi P, Liu M, Zhao L. Method for establishing soil contaminant discharge inventory: An arsenic-contaminated site case study. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2023; 227:115700. [PMID: 36931375 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2023.115700] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2023] [Revised: 03/06/2023] [Accepted: 03/14/2023] [Indexed: 05/08/2023]
Abstract
The existing method to survey site pollution is generally based on soil-groundwater sampling and instrumental analysis, which enables us to access the detailed soil pollution status while lacking quantitative association with industrial activities. It is urgent to understand contaminant discharge modes and establish a discharge inventory for achieving process-targeted pollution control. This study took a 40-year phosphate fertilizer-sulfuric acid site as an example and constructed a contaminant tracing method based on on-site investigations and detailed industrial data. These investigations and data were combined to determine the characteristic pollutant of this site, arsenic. And the calculation process of four-pathway pollution modes (atmospheric deposition, wastewater, solid waste leaching, and storage dripping) is derived from the existing acceptance criteria and risk assessment guidelines. They are set to calculate the arsenic's factory-to-soil discharge flux. The absent process contaminant release information and parameters, such as discharge coefficient, were obtained from soil-groundwater pollution control standards and discharge handbooks. It was found that the high concentration of arsenic (around 1930 mg g-1) was preponderantly caused by sulfur-iron slag and tailing leaching (96.19%), while the other pathways accounted for only 0.13% (atmospheric deposition), 3.59% (wastewater) and 0.09% (storage tank). Results were verified by the measured arsenic concentration, and the difference was +16.29%, which was acceptable. Finally, a contaminant discharge inventory was established with high-resolution spatial distribution and time-scale (historical discharge) evolution. The innovation of this study lies in the preliminary construction of a method for formulating soil discharge inventory. This study would contribute to the refined management of site pollution and reduction of source contaminants discharge. In addition, it will help infer the pollution condition of sites that are difficult to sample so as to help the government achieve precise source control.
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Affiliation(s)
- Weizhen Xue
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200240, China
| | - Diwen Ying
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200240, China
| | - Ye Li
- Key Laboratory of Geographic Information Science of the Ministry of Education, School of Geographic Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai, 200241, China
| | - Yi Sheng
- College of Chemical Engineering, Zhejiang University of Technology, Zhejiang, 310014, China
| | - Tianhao He
- Key Laboratory of Geographic Information Science of the Ministry of Education, School of Geographic Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai, 200241, China
| | - Peili Shi
- Technical Centre for Soil, Agriculture and Rural Ecology and Environment, Ministry of Ecology and Environment, China
| | - Min Liu
- Key Laboratory of Geographic Information Science of the Ministry of Education, School of Geographic Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai, 200241, China
| | - Ling Zhao
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200240, China.
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4
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Xu Q, Wang J, Shi W. Source apportionment and potential ecological risk assessment of heavy metals in soils on a large scale in China. ENVIRONMENTAL GEOCHEMISTRY AND HEALTH 2023; 45:1413-1427. [PMID: 35438436 DOI: 10.1007/s10653-022-01266-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2021] [Accepted: 03/24/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
The properties and sources of soil heavy metals (Pb, Zn, Cu, Cd, As, Hg, Cr, and Ni) need to be comprehensively analyzed to take effective steps to control and reduce soil pollutants. In this research, 416 soil samples were collected on a large scale in China. Two receptor models (PCA/MLR and PMF) were utilized to identify pollutant sources and quantify the contributions. The means of soil heavy metals (Zn, Cu, As, Hg, Cr, and Ni) were lower than the corresponding screening values and intervention values. Cd was greater than the intervention value, while Pb was between the screening value and the intervention value. Source apportionments suggested that mine sources were the most polluted (64.28%), followed by traffic sources (38.98%), natural sources (11.41-39.58%), industrial sources (9.8-18.65%), and agricultural sources (2.79-14.51%). Compared to the PCA/MLR model, the PMF model had a better effect in evaluating soil heavy metal pollution. It gave corresponding weights according to the data concentration and its uncertainty, which made the result reasonable. The ecological risk assessment indicated that Cd posed a significant risk, while Hg caused a mild risk and the other six heavy metals posed a low risk. The spatial distribution of ecological risk suggested that severe risk points were mainly distributed in the central area, while high-risk points were distributed in the southern region. The SRI method was developed to link pollution sources and their potential ecological risks and indicated better applicability to the PMF model. The study findings could provide guidelines for monitoring the main sources and reducing the pollution of soil heavy metals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qisheng Xu
- School of Land Science and Technology, China University of Geosciences, 29 Xueyuan Road, Haidian District, Beijing, 100083, People's Republic of China
| | - Jinman Wang
- School of Land Science and Technology, China University of Geosciences, 29 Xueyuan Road, Haidian District, Beijing, 100083, People's Republic of China.
- Key Laboratory of Land Consolidation and Rehabilitation, Ministry of Land and Resources, Beijing, 100035, People's Republic of China.
| | - Wenting Shi
- School of Land Science and Technology, China University of Geosciences, 29 Xueyuan Road, Haidian District, Beijing, 100083, People's Republic of China
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5
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Yang X, Yang Y, Wan Y, Wu R, Feng D, Li K. Source identification and comprehensive apportionment of the accumulation of soil heavy metals by integrating pollution landscapes, pathways, and receptors. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2021; 786:147436. [PMID: 33984708 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.147436] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2021] [Revised: 04/15/2021] [Accepted: 04/26/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Existing source apportionment methods for soil heavy metals fail to identify the actual landscapes related to pollutant sources and quantify their contributions to the accumulation of soil heavy metals. In this work, we propose a new source identification and apportionment approach for soil heavy metal accumulation by integrating pollution landscapes, pathways, and receptors. Datasets for soil lead (Pb) concentrations in Daye city, China, which was sampled in 2018, were used. First, based on the spatial distribution of Pb, the source landscapes were identified using GeoDetector and spatial analysis methods. Second, a source landscape apportionment model (SLAM) was developed considering both atmospheric deposition and surface runoff as diffusion pathways. Third, considering soil properties and topography as receptor attributes, ordinary least squares (OLS) and geographically weighted regression (GWR) models were employed to further adjust the soil Pb accumulation at receptor locations. The results showed that SLAM followed by the GWR model (SLAM-GWR) had the highest fitting accuracy. Then, the spatial distributions and ranges of contributions of each identified source landscape to Pb accumulation through different pathways were obtained. Finally, the advantages and disadvantages of the proposed approach were discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xue Yang
- College of Resources and Environment, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China; Key Laboratory of Arable Land Conservation (Middle and Lower Reaches of the Yangtze River), Ministry of Agriculture, China; Hubei Key Laboratory of Soil Environment and Pollution Remediation, Wuhan 430070, China
| | - Yong Yang
- College of Resources and Environment, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China; Key Laboratory of Arable Land Conservation (Middle and Lower Reaches of the Yangtze River), Ministry of Agriculture, China; Hubei Key Laboratory of Soil Environment and Pollution Remediation, Wuhan 430070, China.
| | - Yongyong Wan
- College of Resources and Environment, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China; Key Laboratory of Arable Land Conservation (Middle and Lower Reaches of the Yangtze River), Ministry of Agriculture, China; Hubei Key Laboratory of Soil Environment and Pollution Remediation, Wuhan 430070, China
| | - Ruojing Wu
- College of Resources and Environment, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China; Key Laboratory of Arable Land Conservation (Middle and Lower Reaches of the Yangtze River), Ministry of Agriculture, China; Hubei Key Laboratory of Soil Environment and Pollution Remediation, Wuhan 430070, China
| | - Dekun Feng
- College of Resources and Environment, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China; Key Laboratory of Arable Land Conservation (Middle and Lower Reaches of the Yangtze River), Ministry of Agriculture, China; Hubei Key Laboratory of Soil Environment and Pollution Remediation, Wuhan 430070, China
| | - Ke Li
- College of Resources and Environment, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China; Key Laboratory of Arable Land Conservation (Middle and Lower Reaches of the Yangtze River), Ministry of Agriculture, China; Hubei Key Laboratory of Soil Environment and Pollution Remediation, Wuhan 430070, China
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6
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Heusinkveld D, Ramirez-Andreotta MD, Rodríguez-Chávez T, Sáez AE, Betterton E, Rine K. Assessing Children's Lead Exposure in an Active Mining Community Using the Integrated Exposure Uptake Biokinetic Model. EXPOSURE AND HEALTH 2021; 13:517-533. [PMID: 34532608 PMCID: PMC8439183 DOI: 10.1007/s12403-021-00400-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/06/2023]
Abstract
Lead exposure has been shown to be harmful to humans in various settings and there are no safe levels of blood lead in children. At an Alternative Superfund site in Hayden-Winkelman, Arizona, with an active copper smelter and concentrator, lead exceedances in air and soil have been measured in the past 20 years. In this work, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Integrated Exposure Uptake Biokinetic (IEUBK) model was used to estimate Hayden-Winkelman children's (age 6 months-7 years) blood lead levels (BLLs) using site-specific lead concentrations measured in indoor and outdoor air, soil, indoor dust, and drinking water. Values used by a state agency's airborne lead risk forecast program were also evaluated to determine whether their forecasting program is useful in protecting children's public health. Using site-specific values in the model, the results demonstrated that lead ingested via indoor dust was the major contributor to children's BLLs. In addition, the output of the IEUBK model overestimated actual BLLs of children sampled in the community. The IEUBK model was particularly sensitive to high indoor dust levels, and these site-specific measures increased modeled BLL values. This finding is of significance as the IEUBK model is used worldwide in communities with industrial contamination. This study confirmed that the chief contributor to lead exposure in children is household dust. Thus, for lead exposure risk reduction, agencies working at Superfund sites should focus efforts on decontaminating outdoor soil and dust and indoor lead decontamination.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Mónica D. Ramirez-Andreotta
- Department of Environmental Science, University of Arizona
- Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health’s Division of Community, Environment & Policy, University of Arizona
- Corresponding Author: Mónica Ramírez-Andreotta, M.P.A, Ph.D., 1177 E Fourth Street, Rm. 429, Tucson, AZ 85721, Phone: 520-621-0091; Fax: 520-621-1647,
| | | | - A. Eduardo Sáez
- Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, University of Arizona
| | - Eric Betterton
- Department of Atmospheric Sciences, University of Arizona
| | - Kyle Rine
- Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, University of Arizona
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7
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Cuevas-Robles A, Soltani N, Keshavarzi B, Youn JS, MacDonald AB, Sorooshian A. Hygroscopic and Chemical Properties of Aerosol Emissions at a Major Mining Facility in Iran: Implications for Respiratory Deposition. ATMOSPHERIC POLLUTION RESEARCH 2021; 12:292-301. [PMID: 33994823 PMCID: PMC8117051 DOI: 10.1016/j.apr.2020.12.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/02/2023]
Abstract
This study characterizes the hygroscopic and chemical nature of aerosols originating from ten locations (4 outdoors and 6 indoors) around the Gol-E-Gohar (GEG) iron ore mine (Iran), including an assessment of how hygroscopic growth alters particulate deposition in the respiratory system. Aerosols collected on filters in three diameter (Dp) ranges (total suspended particulates [TSP], Dp ≤ 10 μm [PM10], and Dp ≤ 2.5 μm [PM2.5]) were analyzed for chemical and hygroscopic characteristics. The water-soluble aerosol composition is dominated by species associated with directly emitted crustal matter such as chloride, sodium, calcium, and sulfate. There was minimal contribution from organic acids and other secondarily formed species such as inorganic salts. Aerosol growth factors at 90% relative humidity varied between 1.39 and 1.72 and exceed values reported for copper mines in the United States where similar data are available. Values of the hygroscopicity parameter kappa (0.19 to 0.45) were best related to the mass fraction of chloride among all the studied species. Kappa values were generally similar when comparing the three types of samples (TSP, PM2.5, PM10) at each site and also when comparing each of the ten sampling sites. Accounting for hygroscopic growth yields an increase in the deposition fraction for aerosols with a dry Dp between 0.2 and 2 μm based on International Commission on Radiological Protection model calculations, with more variability when examining each of the three individual head airway regions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alberto Cuevas-Robles
- Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA
| | - Naghmeh Soltani
- Department of Earth Sciences, College of Science, Shiraz University, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Behnam Keshavarzi
- Department of Earth Sciences, College of Science, Shiraz University, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Jong-Sang Youn
- Department of Environmental Engineering, The Catholic University of Korea, Bucheon, Republic of Korea
| | - Alexander B MacDonald
- Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA
| | - Armin Sorooshian
- Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA
- Department of Hydrology and Atmospheric Sciences, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA
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8
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Chang X, Li YX. Lead distribution in urban street dust and the relationship with mining, gross domestic product GDP and transportation and health risk assessment. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2020; 262:114307. [PMID: 32443187 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2020.114307] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2019] [Revised: 12/02/2019] [Accepted: 02/29/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Lead (Pb) is an important pollutant and it is of significance to explore the Pb distribution, influencing factors and health risk. Pb concentration and mass load per unit area in 385 street dust samples collected from 19 cities in China were determined during 2011-2013. The results show that the Pb concentration are 68.8, 105.4, 41.7, 49.7, 75.6, 81.7, 131.9, 67.5, 109.3, 164.1, 74.8, 66.4, 99.8, 58.4, 114.0, 59.6, 103.7, 55.4 and 80.4 for Beijing, Chengdu, Daqing, Harbin, Jilin, Jinan, Kunming, Lanzhou, Luoyang, Panzhihua, Qingdao, Yinchuan, Guangzhou, Tangshan, Xi'an, Guangyuan, Nanjing, Taiyuan and Tianjin, respectively. The Pb pollution level of urban street dust varies among cities in the range of 1.72-5.56 times higher than soil background values. The allometric function can fit the change in Pb concentration with particle size well. The medium-sized (38-120 μm) particles contributed 60.2%-80.4% to the Pb load and should be highlighted when selecting street dust management techniques. Influenced by the distribution of Pb ore, the Pb concentration of urban street dust in China shows obvious regional differences, with value in the south 112% higher than that in the north. Among all kinds of mining types, metal-related mining activities discharge a large amount of Pb dust in the process of crushing and smelting, thus contributing most to the Pb load. The Pb load was also affected by transportation. The relationship between Pb load and gross domestic product (GDP) was described with the environmental Kuznets curve (EKC) model, which indicated that the Pb emissions of most cities were still increasing. Finally, the human health risk assessment model with adjusted parameters showed that the Pb risk of all cities was below the threshold. Despite all this, given the EKC law of Pb emission, long-term follow-up assessments are needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xuan Chang
- State Key Laboratory of Water Environment Simulation, School of Environment, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, 100875, China.
| | - Ying-Xia Li
- State Key Laboratory of Water Environment Simulation, School of Environment, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, 100875, China.
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9
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Cheema AI, Liu G, Yousaf B, Abbas Q, Zhou H. A comprehensive review of biogeochemical distribution and fractionation of lead isotopes for source tracing in distinct interactive environmental compartments. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2020; 719:135658. [PMID: 31874752 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.135658] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2019] [Revised: 11/13/2019] [Accepted: 11/19/2019] [Indexed: 05/06/2023]
Abstract
Lead (Pb) is a non-essential and extremely noxious metallic-element whose biogeochemical cycle has been influenced predominantly by increasing human activities to a great extent. The introduction and enrichment of this ubiquitous contaminant in the terrestrial-environment has a long history and getting more attention due to its adverse health effects to living organisms even at very low exposure levels. Its lethal-effects can vary widely depending on the atmospheric-depositions, fates and distribution of Pb isotopes (i.e., 204Pb, 206Pb, 207Pb &208Pb) in the terrestrial-environment. Thus, it is essential to understand the depositional behavior and transformation mechanism of Pb and the factors affecting Pb isotopes composition in the terrestrial-compartments. Owing to the persistence nature of Pb-isotopic fractions, regardless of ongoing biogeochemical-processes taking place in soils and in other interlinked terrestrial-compartments of the biosphere makes Pb isotope ratios (Pb-IRs) more recognizable as a powerful and an efficient-tool for tracing the source(s) and helped uncover pertinent migration and transformation processes. This review discusses the ongoing developments in tracing migration pathway and distribution of lead in various terrestrial-compartments and investigates the processes regulating the Pb isotope geochemistry taking into account the source identification of lead, its transformation among miscellaneous terrestrial-compartments and detoxification mechanism in soil-plant system. Additionally, this compendium reveals that Pb-pools in various terrestrial-compartments differ in Pb isotopic fractionations. In order to improve understanding of partition behaviors and biogeochemical pathways of Pb isotope in the terrestrial environment, future works should involve investigation of changes in Pb isotopic compositions during weathering processes and atmospheric-biological sub-cycles.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ayesha Imtiyaz Cheema
- CAS-Key Laboratory of Crust-Mantle Materials and the Environments, School of Earth and Space Sciences, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, PR China; State Key Laboratory of Loess and Quaternary Geology, Institute of Earth Environment, The Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710075, PR China.
| | - Guijian Liu
- CAS-Key Laboratory of Crust-Mantle Materials and the Environments, School of Earth and Space Sciences, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, PR China; State Key Laboratory of Loess and Quaternary Geology, Institute of Earth Environment, The Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710075, PR China.
| | - Balal Yousaf
- CAS-Key Laboratory of Crust-Mantle Materials and the Environments, School of Earth and Space Sciences, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, PR China.
| | - Qumber Abbas
- CAS-Key Laboratory of Crust-Mantle Materials and the Environments, School of Earth and Space Sciences, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, PR China.
| | - Huihui Zhou
- CAS-Key Laboratory of Crust-Mantle Materials and the Environments, School of Earth and Space Sciences, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, PR China.
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10
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Manjón I, Ramírez-Andreotta MD, Sáez AE, Root RA, Hild J, Janes MK, Alexander-Ozinskas A. Ingestion and inhalation of metal(loid)s through preschool gardening: An exposure and risk assessment in legacy mining communities. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2020; 718:134639. [PMID: 31843310 PMCID: PMC7176541 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.134639] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2019] [Revised: 09/21/2019] [Accepted: 09/23/2019] [Indexed: 05/09/2023]
Abstract
Children residing in mining towns are potentially disproportionately exposed to metal(loid)s via ingestion and dust inhalation, thus, increasing their exposure when engaging in school or home gardening or playing outside. This citizen science study assessed preschool children's potential arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), and lead (Pb) exposure via locally grown produce, water, incidental soil ingestion, and dust inhalation at four sites. Participants were trained to properly collect water, soil, and vegetable samples from their preschools in Nevada County, California. As, Cd, and Pb concentrations in irrigation sources did not exceed the U.S. EPA's maximum contaminant and action levels. In general, garden and playground As and Pb soil concentrations exceeded the U.S. EPA Regional Screening Level, CalEPA Human Health Screening Level, and California Department of Toxic Substances Control Screening Level. In contrast, all Cd concentrations were below these recommended screening levels. Dust samples (<10 μm diameter) were generated from surface garden and playground soil collected at the preschools by a technique that simulated windblown dust. Soil and dust samples were then analyzed by in-vitro bioaccessibility assays using synthetic lung and gastric fluids to estimate the bioaccessible fraction of As, Cd, and Pb in the body. Metal(loid) exposure via grown produce revealed that lettuce, carrot, and cabbage grown in the preschool gardens accumulated a higher concentration of metal(loid) than those store-bought nation-wide. None of the vegetables exceeded the respective recommendation maximum levels for Cd and Pb set by the World Health Organization Codex Alimentarius Commission. The results of this study indicate that consumption of preschool-grown produce and incidental soil ingestion were major contributors to preschool-aged children's exposure to As, Cd, and Pb. Traditionally, this level of site- and age-specific assessment and analyses does not occur at contaminated sites. The results of this holistic risk assessment can inform future risk assessment and public health interventions related to childhood metal(loid) exposures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Iliana Manjón
- Department of Soil, Water, and Environmental Science, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, United States
| | - Mónica D Ramírez-Andreotta
- Department of Soil, Water, and Environmental Science, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, United States; Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health's Division of Community, Environment & Policy, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, United States.
| | - A Eduardo Sáez
- Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, United States
| | - Robert A Root
- Department of Soil, Water, and Environmental Science, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, United States
| | - Joanne Hild
- Sierra Streams Institute, Nevada City, CA, United States
| | - M Katy Janes
- California Department of Water Resources, Sacramento, CA, United States
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11
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Lee PK, Yu S, Jeong YJ, Seo J, Choi SG, Yoon BY. Source identification of arsenic contamination in agricultural soils surrounding a closed Cu smelter, South Korea. CHEMOSPHERE 2019; 217:183-194. [PMID: 30419376 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2018.11.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2018] [Revised: 10/20/2018] [Accepted: 11/02/2018] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Arsenic sources were identified in As-contaminated soils 4 km-7 km from a closed Cu smelter. Host rocks, heavy minerals in contaminated soils, ore minerals in quartz veins (geogenic sources) and bottom ash from the Cu smelter (an anthropogenic source) were investigated as potential sources. As a result, heavy minerals and bottom ash were found to contain higher As concentrations than the contaminated soils. Some of the host rock samples also showed higher As levels than the contaminated soils. Arsenopyrite was one of the frequently detected ore minerals in quartz veins. The As concentrations in soils did not decrease with soil depth or distance from the smelter. These results imply that the atmospheric emission from the smelter was not a major arsenic source. Based on the geochemical investigation and Pb isotopic analysis, the As contamination was affected by both regional ore mineralization and the host rock, and the influence of the smelter was limited. The spatial analysis of As concentrations and Pb isotopic ratios suggested that As contamination was mainly due to regional ore mineralization. The 206Pb/207Pb and 206Pb/204Pb ratios of the contaminated soils were plotted on the mixing line between background soils and ore minerals. The source apportionment results indicated a significant contribution of regional ore mineralization (average 52.9 ± 30.3%) to the As contamination. The contribution of this study is that we identified that the major source of soil contamination was of geologic origin despite an anthropogenic source nearby using geochemical and Pb isotopic investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pyeong-Koo Lee
- Korea Institute of Geoscience and Mineral Resources, 124 Gwahang-no, Yusung-gu, Taejon 34132, South Korea
| | - Soonyoung Yu
- Korea-CO(2) Storage Environmental Management (K-COSEM) Research Center, Korea University, Seoul 02841, South Korea.
| | - Youn-Joong Jeong
- Korea Basic Science Institute, 169-148, Gwahang-no, Yusung-gu, Taejon 34133, South Korea
| | - Jieun Seo
- Department of Earth and Environmental Science, Korea University, Seoul 02841, South Korea
| | - Seon-Gyu Choi
- Department of Earth and Environmental Science, Korea University, Seoul 02841, South Korea
| | - Byung-Yong Yoon
- GeoGreen21 Co., Ltd, 55 Digital-ro 33-gil, Guro-gu, Seoul 08376, South Korea
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12
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Dong C, Taylor MP, Zahran S. The effect of contemporary mine emissions on children's blood lead levels. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2019; 122:91-103. [PMID: 30509512 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2018.09.023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2018] [Revised: 09/11/2018] [Accepted: 09/12/2018] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Broken Hill is home to Australia's oldest silver-zinc-lead mine. However, the precise source of childhood blood lead (PbB) exposures has been subject to considerable debate. Lead sources include natural soil Pb enrichment, legacy deposition, contemporary mining emissions, and Pb-based paint. OBJECTIVE To test whether contemporary mining emissions independently affect childhood PbB in Broken Hill. METHODS Children's (<5 years old) PbB measures from 2011 to 2015 (n = 4852), obtained from Broken Hill Child & Family Health Centre, were analyzed using generalised linear regression models, including covariates of household soil Pb, city dust Pb concentrations (PbD), demographic factors and Pb ore production. Two natural experiments involving wind direction and the 2009 dust storm were examined to test whether the PbB-distance gradient from the mining operations was influenced by contemporary emissions. The influence of contemporary emissions was further interrogated by examining the effect of ore production on PbB and PbD. RESULTS Children living downwind and proximate to the mine had substantially higher PbB outcomes than children similarly distant but upwind. Dust Pb deposition increased significantly with proximity to mining operations as well to Pb production (1991-2013). Average annual PbB correlated with Pb ore production (p < 0.01) with all subsets of children PbB levels responding with near unit elasticity to Pb ore production (p < 0.01). Pre- and post-analysis of the dust storm showed the PbB-distance gradient remained statistically unaltered further confirming contemporary emissions as a source of exposure. CONCLUSIONS Contemporary mining emissions influence children's PbB measures independent of other sources and need to be remediated to facilitate reductions in harmful exposure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chenyin Dong
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Macquarie University, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
| | - Mark Patrick Taylor
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Macquarie University, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia; Energy and Environmental Contaminants Research Centre, Macquarie University, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Sammy Zahran
- Department of Economics, Centre for Disaster and Risk Analysis, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, USA
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13
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Galvão ES, Santos JM, Lima AT, Reis NC, Orlando MTD, Stuetz RM. Trends in analytical techniques applied to particulate matter characterization: A critical review of fundaments and applications. CHEMOSPHERE 2018; 199:546-568. [PMID: 29455125 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2018.02.034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/02/2018] [Revised: 01/31/2018] [Accepted: 02/06/2018] [Indexed: 05/11/2023]
Abstract
Epidemiological studies have shown the association of airborne particulate matter (PM) size and chemical composition with health problems affecting the cardiorespiratory and central nervous systems. PM also act as cloud condensation nuclei (CNN) or ice nuclei (IN), taking part in the clouds formation process, and therefore can impact the climate. There are several works using different analytical techniques in PM chemical and physical characterization to supply information to source apportionment models that help environmental agencies to assess damages accountability. Despite the numerous analytical techniques described in the literature available for PM characterization, laboratories are normally limited to the in-house available techniques, which raises the question if a given technique is suitable for the purpose of a specific experimental work. The aim of this work consists of summarizing the main available technologies for PM characterization, serving as a guide for readers to find the most appropriate technique(s) for their investigation. Elemental analysis techniques like atomic spectrometry based and X-ray based techniques, organic and carbonaceous techniques and surface analysis techniques are discussed, illustrating their main features as well as their advantages and drawbacks. We also discuss the trends in analytical techniques used over the last two decades. The choice among all techniques is a function of a number of parameters such as: the relevant particles physical properties, sampling and measuring time, access to available facilities and the costs associated to equipment acquisition, among other considerations. An analytical guide map is presented as a guideline for choosing the most appropriated technique for a given analytical information required.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elson Silva Galvão
- Departamento de Engenharia Ambiental, Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo, Vitória, ES, Brazil.
| | - Jane Meri Santos
- Departamento de Engenharia Ambiental, Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo, Vitória, ES, Brazil
| | - Ana Teresa Lima
- Departamento de Engenharia Ambiental, Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo, Vitória, ES, Brazil
| | - Neyval Costa Reis
- Departamento de Engenharia Ambiental, Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo, Vitória, ES, Brazil
| | | | - Richard Michael Stuetz
- School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, The University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia
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14
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Varrica D, Dongarrà G, Alaimo MG, Monna F, Losno R, Sanna E, De Giudici G, Tamburo E. Lead isotopic fingerprint in human scalp hair: The case study of Iglesias mining district (Sardinia, Italy). THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2018; 613-614:456-461. [PMID: 28918277 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2017.09.106] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2017] [Revised: 09/11/2017] [Accepted: 09/11/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
The Sulcis-Iglesiente district (SW Sardinia, Italy) has been, until recently, one of the most important Italian polymetallic mining areas for the extraction of lead. Epidemiological studies conducted over several decades have indicated this site at high risk of environmental crisis with possible adverse effects on the public health. In the present paper we discuss Pb isotope signatures in human scalp hair and road dust collected from the Sulcis-Iglesiente area in order to trace the exposure of populations to potential Pb sources. A total of 23 determinations (20 on hair samples and 3 on road dust samples) of lead isotope ratios (206Pb/207Pb and 208Pb/206Pb) were carried out. The obtained results were integrate with literature data regarding the total content of Pb in hair samples from the same study area. Hair from children living in Sant'Antioco exhibited lead isotope ratios in the ranges 1.152-1.165 for 206Pb/207Pb and 2.101-2.108 for 208Pb/206Pb, while hair samples from Iglesias resulted less radiogenic: 206Pb/207Pb~1.147-1.154 and 208Pb/206Pb~2.106-2.118. These values pointed to a multi-source mixing between the less radiogenic sources, corresponding to the Pb ore deposits, and the more radiogenic sources identified in local background.
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Affiliation(s)
- D Varrica
- Dip. Scienze della Terra e del Mare (DiSTeM), via Archirafi 22, 90123 Palermo, (Italy)
| | - G Dongarrà
- Dip. Scienze della Terra e del Mare (DiSTeM), via Archirafi 22, 90123 Palermo, (Italy)
| | - M G Alaimo
- Dip. Scienze della Terra e del Mare (DiSTeM), via Archirafi 22, 90123 Palermo, (Italy)
| | - F Monna
- UMR 6298, ArTeHiS, Université de Bourgogne - CNRS - Culture, 6 bd Gabriel, Bat. Gabriel, 21000 Dijon, France
| | - R Losno
- Institut de Physique du Globe de Paris Sorbonne Paris Cité, Univ Paris Diderot, UMR 7154 CNRS, F-75005 Paris, France
| | - E Sanna
- Department of Environmental and Life Sciences, Cittadella Universitaria, 09042 Monserrato, Italy
| | - G De Giudici
- Department of Chemical and Geological Sciences, Via Trentino 51, 09127 Cagliari, Italy
| | - E Tamburo
- Dip. Scienze della Terra e del Mare (DiSTeM), via Archirafi 22, 90123 Palermo, (Italy).
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Salmanzadeh M, Hartland A, Stirling CH, Balks MR, Schipper LA, Joshi C, George E. Isotope Tracing of Long-Term Cadmium Fluxes in an Agricultural Soil. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2017; 51:7369-7377. [PMID: 28585807 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.7b00858] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Globally widespread phosphate fertilizer applications have resulted in long-term increases in the concentration of cadmium (Cd) in soils. The accumulation of this biotoxic, and bioaccumulative metal presents problems for the management of soil-plant-animal systems, because the magnitude and direction of removal fluxes (e.g., crop uptake, leaching) have been difficult to estimate. Here, Cd isotopic compositions (δ114/110Cd) of archived fertilizer and soil samples from a 66 year-long agricultural field trial in Winchmore, New Zealand, were used to constrain the Cd soil mass balance between 1959 and 2015 AD, informing future soil Cd accumulation trajectories. The isotopic partitioning of soil Cd sources in this system was aided by a change in phosphate source rocks in 1998 AD, and a corresponding shift in fertilizer isotope composition. The dominant influence of mixing between isotopically distinct Cd end-members was confirmed by a Bayesian modeling approach. Furthermore, isotope mass balance modeling revealed that Cd removal processes most likely increased in magnitude substantially between 2000 and 2015 AD, implying an increase in Cd bioaccumulation and/or leaching over that interval. Natural-abundance stable isotopes are introduced here as a powerful tool for tracing the fate of Cd in agricultural soils, and potentially the wider environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mahdiyeh Salmanzadeh
- Environmental Research Institute, School of Science, University of Waikato , Private Bag 3105, Hamilton 3240, New Zealand
| | - Adam Hartland
- Environmental Research Institute, School of Science, University of Waikato , Private Bag 3105, Hamilton 3240, New Zealand
| | - Claudine H Stirling
- Department of Chemistry and Centre for Trace Element Analysis, University of Otago , PO Box 56, Union Place, Dunedin, New Zealand
| | - Megan R Balks
- Environmental Research Institute, School of Science, University of Waikato , Private Bag 3105, Hamilton 3240, New Zealand
| | - Louis A Schipper
- Environmental Research Institute, School of Science, University of Waikato , Private Bag 3105, Hamilton 3240, New Zealand
| | - Chaitanya Joshi
- Department of Mathematics & Statistics, University of Waikato , Private Bag 3105, Hamilton 3240, New Zealand
| | - Ejin George
- Department of Chemistry and Centre for Trace Element Analysis, University of Otago , PO Box 56, Union Place, Dunedin, New Zealand
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16
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Zhang R, Guan M, Shu Y, Shen L, Chen X, Zhang F, Li T. Historical record of lead accumulation and source in the tidal flat of Haizhou Bay, Yellow Sea: Insights from lead isotopes. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2016; 106:383-387. [PMID: 26947927 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2016.02.046] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2015] [Revised: 02/17/2016] [Accepted: 02/19/2016] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
In order to investigate the historical records of lead contamination and source in coastal region of Haizhou Bay, Yellow Sea, a sediment core was collected from tidal flat, dated by (210)Pb and (137)Cs. Lead and its stable isotopic ratios were determined. The profiles of enrichment factor (EF) and Pb isotope ratios showed increasing trend upward throughout the core, correlating closely with the experience of a rapid economic and industrial development of the catchment. According to Pb isotopic ratios, coal combustion emission mainly contributed to the Pb burden in sediments. Based on end-member model, coal combustion emission dominated anthropogenic Pb sources in recent decades contributing from 48% to 67% in sediment. And the contribution of leaded gasoline was lower than 20%. A stable increase of coal combustion source was found in sediment core, while the contribution of leaded gasoline had declined recently, with the phase-out of leaded gasoline in China.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rui Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Marine Geology and Environment, Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Qingdao 266071, People's Republic of China; School of Geodesy and Geomatics Engineering, Huaihai Institute of Technology, Lianyungang 222005, Jiangsu Province, People's Republic of China; State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resources Reuse, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210093, People's Republic of China.
| | - Minglei Guan
- School of Geodesy and Geomatics Engineering, Huaihai Institute of Technology, Lianyungang 222005, Jiangsu Province, People's Republic of China
| | - Yujie Shu
- School of Geodesy and Geomatics Engineering, Huaihai Institute of Technology, Lianyungang 222005, Jiangsu Province, People's Republic of China
| | - Liya Shen
- School of Geodesy and Geomatics Engineering, Huaihai Institute of Technology, Lianyungang 222005, Jiangsu Province, People's Republic of China
| | - Xixi Chen
- School of Geodesy and Geomatics Engineering, Huaihai Institute of Technology, Lianyungang 222005, Jiangsu Province, People's Republic of China
| | - Fan Zhang
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Huaihai Institute of Technology, Lianyungang 222005, Jiangsu Province, People's Republic of China
| | - Tiegang Li
- Key Laboratory of Marine Geology and Environment, Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Qingdao 266071, People's Republic of China; First Institute of Oceanography, State Oceanic Administration, Qingdao 266061, People's Republic of China.
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17
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Li X, Félix OI, Gonzales P, Sáez AE, Ela WP. Reconciling PM10 analyses by different sampling methods for Iron King Mine tailings dust. REVIEWS ON ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH 2016; 31:37-41. [PMID: 26820180 DOI: 10.1515/reveh-2015-0061] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2015] [Accepted: 10/23/2015] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
The overall project objective at the Iron King Mine Superfund site is to determine the level and potential risk associated with heavy metal exposure of the proximate population emanating from the site's tailings pile. To provide sufficient size-fractioned dust for multi-discipline research studies, a dust generator was built and is now being used to generate size-fractioned dust samples for toxicity investigations using in vitro cell culture and animal exposure experiments as well as studies on geochemical characterization and bioassay solubilization with simulated lung and gastric fluid extractants. The objective of this study is to provide a robust method for source identification by comparing the tailing sample produced by dust generator and that collected by MOUDI sampler. As and Pb concentrations of the PM10 fraction in the MOUDI sample were much lower than in tailing samples produced by the dust generator, indicating a dilution of Iron King tailing dust by dust from other sources. For source apportionment purposes, single element concentration method was used based on the assumption that the PM10 fraction comes from a background source plus the Iron King tailing source. The method's conclusion that nearly all arsenic and lead in the PM10 dust fraction originated from the tailings substantiates our previous Pb and Sr isotope study conclusion. As and Pb showed a similar mass fraction from Iron King for all sites suggesting that As and Pb have the same major emission source. Further validation of this simple source apportionment method is needed based on other elements and sites.
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18
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Abstract
Wind erosion, transport and deposition of windblown dust from anthropogenic sources, such as mine tailings impoundments, can have significant effects on the surrounding environment. The lack of vegetation and the vertical protrusion of the mine tailings above the neighboring terrain make the tailings susceptible to wind erosion. Modeling the erosion, transport and deposition of particulate matter from mine tailings is a challenge for many reasons, including heterogeneity of the soil surface, vegetative canopy coverage, dynamic meteorological conditions and topographic influences. In this work, a previously developed Deposition Forecasting Model (DFM) that is specifically designed to model the transport of particulate matter from mine tailings impoundments is verified using dust collection and topsoil measurements. The DFM is initialized using data from an operational Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model. The forecast deposition patterns are compared to dust collected by inverted-disc samplers and determined through gravimetric, chemical composition and lead isotopic analysis. The DFM is capable of predicting dust deposition patterns from the tailings impoundment to the surrounding area. The methodology and approach employed in this work can be generalized to other contaminated sites from which dust transport to the local environment can be assessed as a potential route for human exposure.
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