engleski

Monitoring of metals in fine particles in Zagreb air

Monitoring of lead, cadmium and manganese in total suspended particulate matter was provided in Zagreb from 1971 to 2005. On the basis of the Croatian Air Protection Acts monitoring of lead, cadmium and manganese in PM10 particles in Zagreb started at the beginning of 2006 while monitoring of nickel and arsenic started at the beginning of 2007 as a part of the official monitoring network of air quality. Monitoring was provided at five measuring sites located in the city centre and in the northern, southern, western and eastern parts of the city. Since 2011 monitoring of lead, cadmium, manganese, arsenic and nickel in PM10, PM2, 5 and PM1 particles has been going on as an independent research project. Monitoring is provided at one measuring site in the northern part of the city. This paper presents the trends of annual mean values for metals in PM10 particles over the entire monitoring period. Annual mean concentrations of lead and nickel in PM10 particles had slow decreasing trend, while the concentrations of manganese, cadmium and arsenic in PM10 particles did not have a marked trend but showed minor variations over the entire monitoring period. This paper also shows the preliminary results of metal monitoring in PM10, PM2.5 and PM1 particles from January to February 2011. Compared to lead in PM10 particles, 88.5% was found in PM2.5 particles and 56.8% in PM1 particles. Compared to cadmium in PM10 particles, 86.4% was found in PM2.5 particles and 61.5% in PM1 particles. Compared to arsenic in PM10 particles, 69.5% was found in PM2.5 particles and 37.4% in PM1 particles. Compared to nickel in PM10 particles, 60.7% was found in PM2.5 particles and 42.6% in PM1 particles. Compared to manganese in PM10 particles, 44.5% was found in PM2.5 particles and 24.2% in PM1 particles. Epidemiological studies have shown that particle size and chemical composition play a major role in the relative toxicity of particles. The percentage of metals in PM2.5 and PM1 particles compared to their concentrations in PM10 particles can point to air emission sources. Therefore, monitoring of lead, cadmium, manganese, arsenic and nickel in fine particles is going on in the city of Zagreb.

arsenic; cadmium; lead; manganese; nickel; PM1; PM2.5; PM10

nije evidentirano