TY - JOUR
T1 - PM2.5-bound trace metals in an urban area of Northern Mexico during the COVID-19 pandemic
T2 - characterization, sources, and health risk
AU - Martínez Morales, Stephanie
AU - Cerón Bretón, Julia Griselda
AU - Carbajal, Noel
AU - Cerón Bretón, Rosa Maria
AU - Lara Severino, Reyna
AU - Kahl, Jonathan D.W.
AU - Carrillo Ávila, Jair Rafael
AU - Carranco Lozada, Simón Eduardo
AU - Espinosa Guzmán, Alberto
AU - Pech Pech, Ildefonso Esteban
AU - Garcia Martinez, Rocío
AU - Robles Heredia, Juan Carlos
AU - Hernández López, Guadalupe
AU - Solís Canul, Jose Angel
AU - Uc Chi, Martha Patricia
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2023, The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature B.V.
PY - 2023/9
Y1 - 2023/9
N2 - Abstract: A field study was carried out in the Metropolitan Area of Monterrey (MAM), the second most populated city in Mexico, characterized by increasing urbanization, high traffic density, and intense industrial activity. These characteristics commonly present high concentrations of air pollutants leading to the degradation of air quality. PM2.5 was analyzed for heavy metals at two urban sites located within the MAM (Juarez and San Bernabe) in order to determine sources, health risk, morphology, and elemental content during the COVID-19 pandemic (autumn 2020 and spring 2021). Twenty-four-hour samples of PM2.5 were collected at each site during 30-day periods using high-volume equipment. Gravimetric concentrations and 11 metals were measured (Ca, Cd, Co, Cu, Fe, K, Mg, Mn, Ni, Cr, and Pb) by different analytical techniques (flame atomic absorption spectroscopy, graphite furnace atomic absorption spectroscopy, and inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy). Selected samples were analyzed by scanning electron microscopy-energy-disperse spectroscopy in order to characterize their morphology and elemental content. PM2.5 concentrations exceeded the Mexican standard and WHO guidelines in Juarez during spring 2021. Cu, Cd, and Co were highly enriched by anthropogenic sources, and Ni, K, Cr, and Pb had a moderate enrichment. Mg, Mn, and Ca were of crustal origin. Bivariate statistics and PCA confirmed that alkaline metals originated from crustal sources and that the main sources of trace metals included traffic emissions, resuspension from soil/road dust, steel industry, smelting, and non-exhaust emissions at both sites. Lifetime cancer risk coefficients did not exceed the permissible levels established by EPA and WHO, implying that local residents are not at risk of developing cancer. Non-carcinogenic risk coefficients revealed that there is a possible risk of suffering cardiovascular and respiratory diseases due to inhalation of cobalt at the study sites. Graphical Abstract: [Figure not available: see fulltext.].
AB - Abstract: A field study was carried out in the Metropolitan Area of Monterrey (MAM), the second most populated city in Mexico, characterized by increasing urbanization, high traffic density, and intense industrial activity. These characteristics commonly present high concentrations of air pollutants leading to the degradation of air quality. PM2.5 was analyzed for heavy metals at two urban sites located within the MAM (Juarez and San Bernabe) in order to determine sources, health risk, morphology, and elemental content during the COVID-19 pandemic (autumn 2020 and spring 2021). Twenty-four-hour samples of PM2.5 were collected at each site during 30-day periods using high-volume equipment. Gravimetric concentrations and 11 metals were measured (Ca, Cd, Co, Cu, Fe, K, Mg, Mn, Ni, Cr, and Pb) by different analytical techniques (flame atomic absorption spectroscopy, graphite furnace atomic absorption spectroscopy, and inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy). Selected samples were analyzed by scanning electron microscopy-energy-disperse spectroscopy in order to characterize their morphology and elemental content. PM2.5 concentrations exceeded the Mexican standard and WHO guidelines in Juarez during spring 2021. Cu, Cd, and Co were highly enriched by anthropogenic sources, and Ni, K, Cr, and Pb had a moderate enrichment. Mg, Mn, and Ca were of crustal origin. Bivariate statistics and PCA confirmed that alkaline metals originated from crustal sources and that the main sources of trace metals included traffic emissions, resuspension from soil/road dust, steel industry, smelting, and non-exhaust emissions at both sites. Lifetime cancer risk coefficients did not exceed the permissible levels established by EPA and WHO, implying that local residents are not at risk of developing cancer. Non-carcinogenic risk coefficients revealed that there is a possible risk of suffering cardiovascular and respiratory diseases due to inhalation of cobalt at the study sites. Graphical Abstract: [Figure not available: see fulltext.].
KW - Air pollution
KW - Health risk
KW - PM
KW - Particulate matter
KW - Trace metals
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85159584735&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1007/s11869-023-01372-7
DO - 10.1007/s11869-023-01372-7
M3 - Artículo
C2 - 37359394
AN - SCOPUS:85159584735
SN - 1873-9318
VL - 16
SP - 1789
EP - 1808
JO - Air Quality, Atmosphere and Health
JF - Air Quality, Atmosphere and Health
IS - 9
ER -