Variations in the source, metal content and bioreactivity of technogenic aerosols: a case study from Port Talbot, Wales, UK

Moreno, Teresa, Merolla, Luciano Luigi, Gibbons, Wes, Greenwell, L., Jones, Timothy Peter ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4466-1260 and Richards, Roy J. 2004. Variations in the source, metal content and bioreactivity of technogenic aerosols: a case study from Port Talbot, Wales, UK. Science of the Total Environment 333 (1-3) , pp. 59-73. 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2004.04.019

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Abstract

Atmospheric aerosol samples were collected during different prevailing wind directions from a site located close to a busy motorway, a major steelworks, and the town of PortTalbot (Wales, UK). A high-volume collector was used (1100 l/min), enabling relatively large amounts of particulate matter (PM10–2.5 and PM2.5) samples to be obtained on a polyurethane foam [PUF, H2N–C(O)O–CH2CH3] substrate over periods of 2–7 days. Four samples were chosen to exemplify different particle mixtures: SE- and NE-derived samples for particles moving along and across the motorway, a NW-derived sample from the town, and a mixed SW/SE-derived sample containing a mixture of particles from both steelworks and motorway. The latter sample showed the highest average collection rate (0.9 mg/h, 13 μg/m3) and included a prominent pollution episode when rainy winds were blowing from the direction of the steelworks. Both NW and SE samples were collected under dry conditions and show the same collection rate (0.7 mg/h, 10 μg/m3), whereas the NE sample was collected during wetter weather and shows the lowest rate (0.3 mg/h, 5 μg/m3). Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy-dispersive X-ray microanalysis system (EDX) analyses show all samples are dominated by elemental and organic carbon compounds (EOCC) and nitrates, with lesser amounts of sulphates, felsic silicates, chlorides and metals. ICP–MS analyses show the SW/SE sample to be richest in metals, especially Fe, Zn, Ni, and Mn, these being attributed to an origin from the steelworks. The SE sample, blown along the motorway corridor, shows enhanced levels of Pb, V, Ti, As, and Ce, these metals being interpreted as defining a traffic-related chemical fingerprint. The NW sample shows a very low metalcontent. DNA plasmid assay data on the samples show TM50 values varying from 66 to 175 μg/ml for the adjusted whole sample and 89 to 203 μg/ml for the soluble fraction. The SW/SE-mixed metalliferous sample is the most bioreactive (both whole and soluble) and the soluble fraction of the metal-depleted NW sample is the least bioreactive. The metalcontent of the aerosol samples, especially soluble metals such as Zn, is suggested to be the primary component responsible for oxidative damage of the DNA, and therefore most implicated in any health effects arising from the inhalation of these particulate cocktails.

Item Type:	Article
Date Type:	Publication
Status:	Published
Schools:	Earth and Environmental Sciences
Subjects:	Q Science > Q Science (General)
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Source identification; PM10–2.5; PM2.5; Wind direction; Airborne metal; DNA; Port Talbot
Publisher:	Elsevier
ISSN:	0048-9697
Last Modified:	19 Oct 2022 09:09
URI:	https://orca.cardiff.ac.uk/id/eprint/20127

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