Dataset Information

Large global variations in measured airborne metal concentrations driven by anthropogenic sources.

ABSTRACT: Globally consistent measurements of airborne metal concentrations in fine particulate matter (PM_2.5) are important for understanding potential health impacts, prioritizing air pollution mitigation strategies, and enabling global chemical transport model development. PM_2.5 filter samples (N?~?800 from 19 locations) collected from a globally distributed surface particulate matter sampling network (SPARTAN) between January 2013 and April 2019 were analyzed for particulate mass and trace metals content. Metal concentrations exhibited pronounced spatial variation, primarily driven by anthropogenic activities. PM_2.5 levels of lead, arsenic, chromium, and zinc were significantly enriched at some locations by factors of 100-3000 compared to crustal concentrations. Levels of metals in PM_2.5 and PM₁₀ exceeded health guidelines at multiple sites. For example, Dhaka and Kanpur sites exceeded the US National Ambient Air 3-month Quality Standard for lead (150 ng m^-3). Kanpur, Hanoi, Beijing and Dhaka sites had annual mean arsenic concentrations that approached or exceeded the World Health Organization's risk level for arsenic (6.6 ng m^-3). The high concentrations of several potentially harmful metals in densely populated cites worldwide motivates expanded measurements and analyses.

SUBMITTER: McNeill J

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7733447 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Large global variations in measured airborne metal concentrations driven by anthropogenic sources.

McNeill Jacob J Snider Graydon G Weagle Crystal L CL Walsh Brenna B Bissonnette Paul P Stone Emily E Abboud Ihab I Akoshile Clement C Anh Nguyen Xuan NX Balasubramanian Rajasekhar R Brook Jeffrey R JR Coburn Craig C Cohen Aaron A Dong Jinlu J Gagnon Graham G Garland Rebecca M RM He Kebin K Holben Brent N BN Kahn Ralph R Kim Jong Sung JS Lagrosas Nofel N Lestari Puji P Liu Yang Y Jeba Farah F Joy Khaled Shaifullah KS Martins J Vanderlei JV Misra Amit A Norford Leslie K LK Quel Eduardo J EJ Salam Abdus A Schichtel Bret B Tripathi S N SN Wang Chien C Zhang Qiang Q Brauer Michael M Gibson Mark D MD Rudich Yinon Y Martin Randall V RV

Scientific reports 20201211 1

Globally consistent measurements of airborne metal concentrations in fine particulate matter (PM<sub>2.5</sub>) are important for understanding potential health impacts, prioritizing air pollution mitigation strategies, and enabling global chemical transport model development. PM<sub>2.5</sub> filter samples (N ~ 800 from 19 locations) collected from a globally distributed surface particulate matter sampling network (SPARTAN) between January 2013 and April 2019 were analyzed for particulate mass ...[more]

PMID: 33311638

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Project description:Premature infants in neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) have underdeveloped immune systems, making them susceptible to adverse health consequences from air pollutant exposure. Little is known about the sources of indoor airborne particles that contribute to the exposure of premature infants in the NICU environment. In this study, we monitored the spatial and temporal variations of airborne particulate matter concentrations along with other indoor environmental parameters and human occupancy. The experiments were conducted over one year in a private-style NICU. The NICU was served by a central heating, ventilation and air-conditioning (HVAC) system equipped with an economizer and a high-efficiency particle filtration system. The following parameters were measured continuously during weekdays with 1-min resolution: particles larger than 0.3 μm resolved into 6 size groups, CO2 level, dry-bulb temperature and relative humidity, and presence or absence of occupants. Altogether, over sixteen periods of a few weeks each, measurements were conducted in rooms occupied with premature infants. In parallel, a second monitoring station was operated in a nearby hallway or at the local nurses' station. The monitoring data suggest a strong link between indoor particle concentrations and human occupancy. Detected particle peaks from occupancy were clearly discernible among larger particles and imperceptible for submicron (0.3-1 μm) particles. The mean indoor particle mass concentrations averaged across the size range 0.3-10 μm during occupied periods was 1.9 μg/m(3), approximately 2.5 times the concentration during unoccupied periods (0.8 μg/m(3)). Contributions of within-room emissions to total PM10 mass in the baby rooms averaged 37-81%. Near-room indoor emissions and outdoor sources contributed 18-59% and 1-5%, respectively. Airborne particle levels in the size range 1-10 μm showed strong dependence on human activities, indicating the importance of indoor-generated particles for infant's exposure to airborne particulate matter in the NICU.

Dataset Information

Large global variations in measured airborne metal concentrations driven by anthropogenic sources.

Publications

Large global variations in measured airborne metal concentrations driven by anthropogenic sources.

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