engleski

Arsenic levels in fine particulate matter in Zagreb air

Exposure to arsenic may occur via ambient air, tobacco smoke, water, food or beverages. Adverse health effects of arsenic may involve the respiratory, gastrointestinal, cardiovascular, nervous and haematopoietic system. In the atmosphere, arsenic is in the form of particulate matter or is adsorbed on particulate matter. This paper presents the first results of arsenic monitoring in fine particulate matter with aerodynamic diameter of less than 10 μm, 2.5 μm, or 1 μm (PM10, PM2.5, or PM1) in the city of Zagreb. Samples of particulate matter were collected on quartz membrane filters, destructed by microwaves, and arsenic the arsenic extracted with nitric acid. For analysis we used atomic absorption spectrometry with electrothermal atomisation and Zeeman background correction. Arsenic in PM2.5 and PM1 particles was 55% and 48% of its PM10 content respectively. Correlations between arsenic were the highest with the PM10 particle fraction and the lowest with the PM1 fraction, which points to a mineral origin of arsenic in the air.

ambient air; PM10; PM2.5; PM1 fraction

nije evidentirano