Discussion on graphical methods to identify point sources from wind and particulate matter-bound metal data

The aim of the present work is to use graphical methods based on the evaluation of selected trace metals (Mn, Cu, Cr, V and Ni) and wind direction monitoring data to identify sources of trace metal in the main urban areas of the Cantabria Region (Northern Spain). These graphical methods take into account the frequency of wind in each sector and the measured concentration of trace elements in PM10. The comparison between the contribution of wind and selected trace metals to each sector is presented in polar diagrams. The main conclusions derived from these diagrams are compared to those obtained from radial diagrams based on pollutant concentration roses computed from daily metal levels and hourly wind direction data. The procedure, based on plotting the ratio between the contribution of trace metals and wind data to each sector on polar diagrams, may result in an easier interpretation. Finally, both procedures are applied to data from three sampling sites located in Santander Bay, to study the influence of point sources on the levels of Mn. The analysis of the results shows that similar conclusions were obtained from both methods. These methods are primarily recommended when large emissions are produced by local point sources.The authors are thankful for the financial support from the CTM 2010-16068 project (Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation). The authors would also like to thank the Regional Environment Ministry of the Cantabria Government for providing the PM10 samples at the GUAR, CAST and TORR sites, and the Meteorological State Agency (AEMET) for supplying the wind information at SANT

Measurement of Elemental and Organic Carbon in Europe

The new Air Quality Directive 2008/50/EC is asking in Annex IX that elemental (EC) and organic (OC) carbon as well as soluble ions should be measured at selected background sites in each Member State. Several methods (thermal, optical or photo-acoustic methods) to determine elemental and organic carbon exist which do not always deliver comparable results. European experts in EC/OC measurements met at the JRC in Ispra on 10th and 11th February 2009 to discuss during a workshop the best suitable European method. The main tasks of this workshop were to discuss the advantages and disadvantages of different methods for the determination of OC and EC, to get information from the Member States on existing methods or even standards being applied, to initiate discussions on a preferred basic method to be standardised by CEN within the scope of Directive 2008/50/EC. The conclusions of this workshop will directly feed into CEN and the corresponding Working Group to clearly define their task for European wide standardisation and hence harmonisation.JRC.H.4-Transport and air qualit

Intercomparison Exercise for Heavy Metals in PM10

The Joint Research Centre (JRC) has carried out an Intercomparison Exercise (IE) for the determination of heavy metals in particulate matter (PM10). The IE focussed on Lead (Pb), Arsenic (As), Nickel (Ni) and Cadmium (Cd), the heavy metals regulated by the 1st and 4th Daughter Directives for Air Pollution. Copper (Cu), Chromium (Cr) and Zinc (Zn), the elements included in the EMEP programme together with Aluminium (Al), Cobalt (Co), Iron (Fe), Manganese (Mn) and Vanadium (V) were also tested. Fourteen Laboratories, generally members of the Network of Air Quality Reference Laboratories (AQUILA), participated in the IE. The participants mainly used microwave digestion with nitric acid and hydrogen peroxide and Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS) or Graphite Furnace Atomic Absorption Spectrometry (GF-AAS) for analysis as recommended in the reference method (EN 14902). However, a few participants used other methods: Energy Dispersive X-ray Fluorescence (EDXRF), Atomic Emission Spectrometry (ICP-AES) and Voltammetry for analysis and vaporisation on hot plate before microwave digestion, Soxhlet extraction, high pressure or cold Hydrogen Fluoride methods for digestion. Each participant received 5 samples to be analysed: a liquid sample prepared by dilution of a Certified Reference Material (CRM), a solution of a dust CRM sample digested by the JRC13F, a sub-sample of a dust CRM that each participating laboratory had to digest and analyse, a solution prepared by JRC after digestion of an exposed filter and a pair of filters (one blank filter and one exposed filter) to be digested and analysed by each participant. For 89 % of all types of samples, the DQOs of the 1st and 4th European Directives (uncertainty of 25 % for Pb and 40 % for As, Cd and Ni) were met. All together, this is a very good score. The best results were obtained for the liquid CRM, dust CRM digested by JRC, dust CRM and filter digested by JRC with 92, 90, 96 and 93 % of DQOs being met, respectively. It was found that the DQOs were not met if the difference of acidity between test samples and participant calibration standards was high. Conversely, only 76 % of DQOs were met for the filter to be digested by each participant with (about 85 % for Cd and Ni, 73/64 % for Pb and As, the most difficult element to determine). The worst results were associated with special events: explosion in microwave oven during digestion for two participants, a wrong dilution factor used by one participant and a huge contamination in the blank filter for another participant. Among the two explosions, one of them was probably the effect of a lack of temperature control in the digestion vessel. For the other explosion, the microwave digestion and the digestion program advised by EN 14902 is to be questioned. Moreover, satisfactory results were obtained using Soxhlet extraction, high pressure method and cold Hydrogen Fluoride digestion methods which are not presented in EN 14902. The DQOs of As and Cd could not be met with EDXRF whose limit of detection was too high for these two elements and for Cd using Voltammetry which suffered a strong interference for this element. Regarding the methods of analysis, apart the points mentioned just before about EDXRF and Voltammetry, good results were observed using ICP-OES for Cd, Ni and Pb. A few discrepancies were also registered for GF-AAS and ICP-MS but they were created by the special events or acidity problem mentioned before. This shows that even though GF-AAS and ICP-MS are found suitable, the implementation by each participant may be responsible for important mistakes.JRC.H.4-Transport and air qualit

Comparison of PM10 concentrations and metal content in three different sites of the Venice Lagoon: An analysis of possible aerosol sources

The Venice Lagoon is exposed to atmospheric pollutants from industrial activities, thermoelectric power plants, petrochemical plants, incinerator, domestic heating, ship traffic, glass factories and vehicular emissions on the mainland. In 2005, construction began on the mobile dams (MOSE), one dam for each channel connecting the lagoon to the Adriatic Sea as a barrier against high tide. These construction works could represent an additional source of pollutants. PM10 samples were taken on random days between 2007 and 2010 at three different sites: Punta Sabbioni, Chioggia and Malamocco, located near the respective dam construction worksites. Chemical analyses of V, Cr, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, As, Mo, Cd, Sb, Tl and Pb in PM10 samples were performed by Inductively coupled plasmaquadrupole mass spectrometry (ICP-QMS) and results were used to identify the main aerosol sources. The correlation of measured data with meteorology, and source apportionment, failed to highlight a contribution specifically associated to the emissions of the MOSE construction works. The comparison of the measurements at the three sites showed a substantial homogeneity of metal concentrations in the area. Source apportionment with principal component analysis (PCA) and positive matrix factorization (PMF) showed that a four principal factors model could describe the sources of metals in PM10. Three of them were assigned to specific sources in the area and one was characterised as a source of mixed origin (anthropogenic and crustal). A specific anthropogenic source of PM10 rich in Ni and Cr, active at the Chioggia site, was also identified

Die Bilirubinbestimmung nach FERRO und HAM im Serum

Peer Reviewe

Meine lieben Enkelkinder.

See also the collection of Rosalie Gladtke's granddaughter, Berta Kuba (AR 25120