Elemental composition of ambient fine particles in urban schools : sources of children’s exposure


Autoria(s): Crilley, Leigh R.; Ayoko, Godwin A.; Stelcer, Eduard; Cohen, David D.; Mazaheri, Mandana; Morawska, Lidia
Data(s)

01/12/2014

Resumo

Currently, there is a limited understanding of the sources of ambient fine particles that contribute to the exposure of children at urban schools. Since the size and chemical composition of airborne particle are key parameters for determining the source as well as toxicity, PM1 particles (mass concentration of particles with an aerodynamic diameter less than 1 µm) were collected at 24 urban schools in Brisbane, Australia and their elemental composition determined. Based on the elemental composition four main sources were identified; secondary sulphates, biomass burning, vehicle and industrial emissions. The largest contributing source was industrial emissions and this was considered as the main source of trace elements in the PM1 that children were exposed to at school. PM1 concentrations at the schools were compared to the elemental composition of the PM2.5 particles (mass concentration of particles with an aerodynamic diameter less than 2.5 µm) from a previous study conducted at a suburban and roadside site in Brisbane. This comparison revealed that the more toxic heavy metals (V, Cr, Ni, Cu, Zn and Pb), mostly from vehicle and industrial emissions, were predominantly in the PM1 fraction. Thus, the results from this study points to PM1 as a potentially better particle size fraction for investigating the health effects of airborne particles.

Formato

application/pdf

Identificador

http://eprints.qut.edu.au/82011/

Publicador

Chinese Association for Aerosol Research in Taiwan

Relação

http://eprints.qut.edu.au/82011/3/82011.pdf

DOI:10.4209/aaqr.2014.04.0077

Crilley, Leigh R., Ayoko, Godwin A., Stelcer, Eduard, Cohen, David D., Mazaheri, Mandana, & Morawska, Lidia (2014) Elemental composition of ambient fine particles in urban schools : sources of children’s exposure. Aerosol and Air Quality Research, 14(7), pp. 1906-1916.

Direitos

Copyright 2014 Taiwan Association for Aerosol Research

Fonte

School of Chemistry, Physics & Mechanical Engineering; Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation; Science & Engineering Faculty

Palavras-Chave #040101 Atmospheric Aerosols #050205 Environmental Management #090799 Environmental Engineering not elsewhere classified #Exposure at schools #industrial emissions #PM1 composition #health effects
Tipo

Journal Article