Size-resolved measurements of PM2.5 water-soluble elements in Iasi, north-eastern Romania: Seasonality, source apportionment and potential implications for human health

Alina Giorgiana Galon-Negru; Romeo Iulian Olariu; Cecilia Arsene

doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.133839

Size-resolved measurements of PM_2.5 water-soluble elements in Iasi, north-eastern Romania: Seasonality, source apportionment and potential implications for human health

Sci Total Environ. 2019 Dec 10:695:133839. doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.133839. Epub 2019 Aug 12.

Authors

Alina Giorgiana Galon-Negru¹, Romeo Iulian Olariu¹, Cecilia Arsene²

Affiliations

¹ "Alexandru Ioan Cuza" University of Iasi, Faculty of Chemistry, Department of Chemistry, 11 Carol I, 700506, Iasi, Romania; "Alexandru Ioan Cuza" University of Iasi, Integrated Centre of Environmental Science Studies in the North Eastern Region, 11 Carol I, 700506, Iasi, Romania.
² "Alexandru Ioan Cuza" University of Iasi, Faculty of Chemistry, Department of Chemistry, 11 Carol I, 700506, Iasi, Romania; "Alexandru Ioan Cuza" University of Iasi, Integrated Centre of Environmental Science Studies in the North Eastern Region, 11 Carol I, 700506, Iasi, Romania. Electronic address: carsene@uaic.ro.

PMID: 31425987
DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.133839

Abstract

The present paper reports the first size-resolved element measurements in the PM_2.5 fraction collected throughout 2016 in the Iasi urban area in north-eastern Romania. Concentrations of water-soluble elements (Ag, Al, As, B, Ba, Be, Bi, Cd, Co, Cu, Cr, Fe, Ga, Mg, Mn, Mo, Ni, Pb, Rb, Se, Sr, Te, Ti, U, V, Zn) were determined using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. Several water-soluble heavy metals (Al, Fe, Zn, As, Cr, Pb) exhibit clear seasonal patterns with maxima over the cold season and minima over the warm season. Elements as Al, Fe, Mg, Zn, Ni, Mn, and Cu present the highest levels in the PM_2.5 fraction, indicating significant contributions from soil-dust resuspension or brake lining and tires. Clear fine mode size-dependent distributions were observed for anthropogenic source-origin elements (Pb, Zn, Cd, V, etc.) due to an acidity-driven metals dissolution process. Positive matrix factorization, concentration weighted trajectory and bivariate polar plot analyses were applied to the entire PM_2.5 database. Based on relative concentrations of various elements, five factors associated with specific sources were identified. The most important contributions to the total PM_2.5 mass concentration (during the total period) come from secondary formation of the ammonium sulfate form (~44%) and from nitrate (~37%). Resuspended dust accounts for a contribution of about 16%, while biomass burning mixed with NaCl salt/sea-salt sources contribute as much as ~3%. Traffic and industrial sources seem to yield little contribution (<0.05%). An assessment investigation of non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic health risks revealed water-soluble arsenic and chromium (VI) as elements with the largest incremental carcinogenic risks. Both metals have traffic and industrial related sources and therefore it is believed that in the future, at the local/regional level, these sources should receive attention by implementing appropriate emission control measures.

Keywords: Emission sources; Fine particle; Health risks; Positive matrix factorization; Water-soluble metals.

MeSH terms

Air Pollutants / analysis*
Environmental Exposure / analysis*
Environmental Exposure / statistics & numerical data
Environmental Monitoring
Humans
Particulate Matter / analysis*
Romania
Trace Elements / analysis*

Substances

Air Pollutants
Particulate Matter
Trace Elements