Skip to main content

Assessment of selected metals in the ambient air PM10 in urban sites of Bangkok (Thailand)

Environmental Science and Pollution Research volume 23, pages 2948–2961 (2016)Cite this article

Abstract

Estimating the atmospheric concentrations of PM10-bounded selected metals in urban air is crucial for evaluating adverse health impacts. In the current study, a combination of measurements and multivariate statistical tools was used to investigate the influence of anthropogenic activities on variations in the contents of 18 metals (i.e., Al, Sc, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, As, Se, Cd, Sb, Ba, La, Ce and Pb) in ambient air. The concentrations of PM10-bounded metals were measured simultaneously at eight air quality observatory sites during a half-year period at heavily trafficked roads and in urban residential zones in Bangkok, Thailand. Although the daily average concentrations of Al, V, Cr, Mn and Fe were almost equivalent to those of other urban cities around the world, the contents of the majority of the selected metals were much lower than the existing ambient air quality guidelines and standard limit values. The sequence of average values of selected metals followed the order of Al > Fe > Zn > Cu > Pb > Mn > Ba > V > Sb > Ni > As > Cr > Cd > Se > Ce > La > Co > Sc. The probability distribution function (PDF) plots showed sharp symmetrical bell-shaped curves in V and Cr, indicating that crustal emissions are the predominant sources of these two elements in PM10. The comparatively low coefficients of divergence (COD) that were found in the majority of samples highlight that site-specific effects are of minor importance. A principal component analysis (PCA) revealed that 37.74, 13.51 and 11.32 % of the total variances represent crustal emissions, vehicular exhausts and the wear and tear of brakes and tires, respectively.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution.

Access options

Buy single article

Instant access to the full article PDF.

USD 39.95

Price includes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5

References

  • Almeida SM, Pio CA, Freitas MC, Reis MA, Trancoso MA (2006) Source apportionment of atmospheric urban aerosol based on weekdays/weekend variability: evaluation of road re-suspended dust contribution. Atmos Environ 40:2058–2067

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Alves CA, Gomes J, Nunes T, Duarte M, Calvo A, Custódio D, Pio C, Karanasiou A, Querol X (2015) Size-segregated particulate matter and gaseous emissions from motor vehicles in a road tunnel. Atmos Res 153:134–144

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Banerjee ADK (2003) Heavy metal levels and solid phase speciation in street dusts of Delhi, India. Environ Pollut 123:95–105

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Begum BA, Kim E, Biswas SK, Hopke PK (2004) Investigation of sources of atmospheric aerosol at urban and semi-urban areas in Bangladesh. Atmos Environ 38:3025–3038

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Begum BA, Biswas SK, Hopke PK (2011) Key issues in controlling air pollutants in Dhaka, Bangladesh. Atmos Environ 45(40):7705–7713

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Berardi R, Pellei C, Valeri G, Pistelli M, Onofri A, Morgese F, Caramanti M, Mirza RM, Santoni M, De Lisa M, Savini A, Ballatore Z, Giuseppetti GM, Cascinu S (2015) Chromium exposure and germinal embryonal carcinoma: first two cases and review of the literature. J Toxicol Environ Health A 78(1):1–6

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Charlesworth S, Everett M, McCarthy R, Ordóñez A, de Miguel E (2003) A comparative study of heavy metal concentration and distribution in deposited street dusts in a large and a small urban area: Birmingham and Coventry, West Midlands, UK. Environ Int 29:563–573

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Cong Z, Kang S, Luo C, Li Q, Huang J, Gao S, Li X (2011) Trace elements and lead isotopic composition of PM10 in Lhasa, Tibet. Atmos Environ 45(34):6210–6215

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Crawford J, Chambers S, Cohen DD, Dyer L, Wang T, Zahorowski R (2007) Receptor modelling using positive matrix factorization, back trajectories and Radon-222. Atmos Environ 41:6823–6837

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Dongarrà G, Mannoa E, Varricaa D, Vultaggiob M (2007) Mass levels, crustal component and trace elements in PM10 in Palermo, Italy. Atmos Environ 41:7977–7986

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • European Commission. Air quality standards [homepage on the Internet]. No date [updated 2012 Nov 30; cited 2013 Jan 24]. Available from: http://ec.europa.eu/environment/air/quality/standards.htm

  • Furuta N, Iijima A, Kambe A, Sakai K, Sato K (2005) Concentrations, enrichment and predominant sources of Sb and other trace elements in size classified airborne particulate matter collected in Tokyo from 1995 to 2004. J Environ Monit 7(12):1155–1561

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Gao Y, Nelson ED, Field MP, Ding Q, Li H, Sherrell RM, Gigliotti CL, Van Ry DA, Glenn TR, Eisenreich SJ (2002) Characterization of atmospheric trace elements on PM2.5 particulate matter over the New York–New Jersey harbour estuary. Atmos Environ 36:1077–1086

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Gietl JK, Lawrence R, Thorpe AJ, Harrison RM (2010) Identification of brake wear particles and derivation of a quantitative tracer for brake dust at a major road. Atmos Environ 44:141–146

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Handler M, Puls C, Zbiral J, Marr I, Puxbaum H, Limbeck A (2008) Size and composition of particulate emissions from motor vehicles in the Kaisermühlen-Tunnel, Vienna. Atmos Environ 42:2173–2186

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hien PD, Binh NT, Truong Y, Ngo NT, Sieu LN (2001) Comparative receptor modelling study of TSP, PM2 and PM2–10 in Ho Chi Minh city. Atmos Environ 35:2669–2678

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Iijima A, Sato K, Fujitani Y, Fujimori E, Saitoh Y, Tanabe K, Ohara T, Kozawa K, Furuta N (2009) Clarification of the predominant emission sources of antimony in airborne particulate matter and estimation of their effects on the atmosphere in Japan. Environ Chem 6:122–135

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Iijima A, Sato K, Ikeda T, Sato H, Kozawa K, Furuta N (2010) Concentration distributions of dissolved Sb(III) and Sb(V) species in size-classified inhalable airborne particulate matter. J Anal At Spectrom 25:356–363

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Johansson C, Norman M, Burman L (2009) Road traffic emission factors for heavy metals. Atmos Environ 43:4681–4688

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Karageorgis AP, Katsanevakis S, Kaberi H (2009) Use of enrichment factors for the assessment of heavy metal contamination in the sediments of Koumoundourou Lake, Greece. Water Air Soil Pollut 204:243–258

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kemp K (2002) Trends and sources for heavy metals in urban atmosphere. Nucl Inst Methods Phys Res B 189:227–232

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lee BK, Lee HK, Jun NY (2006) Analysis of regional and temporal characteristics of PM10 during an Asian dust episode in Korea. Chemosphere 63:1106–1115

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lee S, Liu W, Wang Y, Russell AG, Edgerton ES (2008) Source apportionment of PM2.5: comparing PMF and CMB results for four ambient monitoring sites in the southeastern United States. Atmos Environ 42:4126–4137

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Li YM, Pan YP, Wang YS, Wang YF, Li XR (2012) Chemical characteristics and sources of trace metals in precipitation collected from a typical industrial city in Northern China. Huan Jing Ke Xue 33(11):3712–3717

    Google Scholar 

  • Limbeck A, Handler M, Puls C, Zbiral J, Bauer H, Puxbaum H (2009) Impact of mineral components and selected trace metals on ambient PM10 concentrations. Atmos Environ 43:530–538

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • López JM, Callén MS, Murillo R, García T, Navarro MV, de la Cruz MT, Mastral AM (2005) Levels of selected metals in ambient air PM10 in an urban site of Zaragoza (Spain). Environ Res 99:58–67

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lough GC, Schauer JJ, Park JS, Shafer MM, Deminter JT, Weinstein JP (2005) Emissions of metals associated with motor vehicle roadways. Environ Sci Technol 39:826–836

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Madrid F, Barrientos ED, Madrid L (2008) Availability and bio-accessibility of metals in the clay fraction of urban soils of Sevilla. Environ Pollut 605–610

  • Milligan GW, Cooper MC (1987) A study of variable standardization. College of Administrative Science Working paper series, 87–63. The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH

    Google Scholar 

  • Pant P, Harrison R (2012) Critical review of receptor modelling for particulate matter: a case study of India. Atmos Environ 49:1–12

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Pongpiachan S (2013a) Diurnal variation, vertical distribution and source apportionment of carcinogenic polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in Chiang-Mai, Thailand. Asian Pac J Cancer Prev 14(3):1851–1863

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pongpiachan S (2013b) Vertical distribution and potential risk of particulate polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in high buildings of Bangkok, Thailand. Asian Pac J Cancer Prev 14(3):1865–77

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pongpiachan S, Choochuay C, Hattayanone M, Kositanont C (2013) Temporal and spatial distribution of particulate carcinogens and mutagens in Bangkok, Thailand. Asian Pac J Cancer Prev 14(3):1879–1887

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pongpiachan S, Tipmanee D, Khumsup C, Kittikoon I, Hirunyatrakul P (2015a) Assessing risks to adults and preschool children posed by PM2.5-bound polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) during a biomass burning episode in Northern Thailand. Sci Total Environ 508:435–444

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Pongpiachan S, Hattayanone M, Choochuay C, Mekmok R, Wuttijak N, Ketratanakul A (2015b) Enhanced PM10 bounded PAHs from shipping emissions. Atmos Environ 108:13–19

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ratcliffe HE, Swanson GM, Fischer LJ (1996) Human exposure to mercury: a critical assessment of the evidence of adverse health effects. J Toxicol Environ Health 49(3):221–270

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Rosen JF (1995) Adverse health effects of lead at low exposure levels: trends in the management of childhood lead poisoning. Toxicology 97(1-3):11–17

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Rudnick RL (2003) “The Crust”, Volume 3 of the Treatise on Geochemistry, Elsevier

  • Silva LID, Yokoyama L, Maia LB, Monteiro MIC, Pontes FVM, Carneiro MC, Neto AA (2015) Evaluation of bioaccessible heavy metal fractions in PM10 from the metropolitan region of Rio de Janeiro city, Brazil, using a simulated lung fluid. Microchem J 118:266–271

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Song Y, Zhang Y, Xie S, Zeng L, Zheng M, Salmon LG, Shao M, Slanina S (2006) Source apportionment of PM2.5 in Beijing by positive matrix factorization. Atmos Environ 40:1526–1537

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Srithawirat T, Latif MT (2015) Concentration of selected heavy metals in the surface dust of residential buildings in Phitsanulok. Thailand Environ Earth Sci. doi:10.1007/s12665-015-4291-0

    Google Scholar 

  • Wang J, Hu Z, Chen Y, Chen Z, Xu S (2013) Contamination characteristics and possible sources of PM10 and PM2.5 in different functional areas of Shanghai, China. Atmos Environ 68:221–229

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wang W, Cheng S, Zhang D (2014a) Association of inorganic arsenic exposure with liver cancer mortality: a meta-analysis. Environ Res 135:120–125

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wang L, Liang T, Zhang Q, Li K (2014b) Rare earth element components in atmospheric particulates in the Bayan Obo mine region. Environ Res 131:64–70

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wilson JG, Kingham S, Pearce J, Sturman AP (2005) A review of intra-urban variations in particulate air pollution: implications for epidemiological research. Atmos Environ 39:6444–6462

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wongphatarakul V, Friedlander SK, Pinto JP (1998) A comparative study of PM2.5 ambient aerosol chemical databases. Environ Sci Technol 32:3926–3934

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wu ZY, Han M, Lin ZC, Ondov JM (1994) Chesapeake Bay atmospheric deposition study, year 1: sources and dry deposition of selected elements in aerosol particles. Atmos Environ 28(8):1471–1486

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Yang J, Kim EC, Shin DC, Jo SJ, Lim YW (2014) Human exposure and risk assessment of cadmium for residents of abandoned metal mine areas in Korea. Environ Geochem Health. doi:10.1007/s10653-014-9650-3

    Google Scholar 

  • Yatkin S, Bayram A (2008a) Determination of major natural and anthropogenic source profiles for particulate matter and trace elements in Izmir, Turkey. Chemosphere 71:685–696

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Yatkin S, Bayram A (2008b) Source apportionment of PM10 and PM2.5 using positive matrix factorization and chemical mass balance in Izmir, Turkey. Sci Total Environ 390:109–123

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zhang H, Wang Z, Zhang Y, Ding M, Li L (2015) Identification of traffic-related metals and the effects of different environments on their enrichment in roadside soils along the Qinghai-Tibet highway. Sci Total Environ 521-522C:160–172

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zwolak I (2014) Vanadium carcinogenic, immunotoxic and neurotoxic effects: a review of in vitro studies. Toxicol Mech Methods 24(1):1–12

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

This work was performed with the approval of the National Institute of Development Administration (NIDA), Thailand, and financial support from the Department of Regional Activation, Faculty of Regional Policy, Takasaki City University of Economics, Japan. The author acknowledges the research staff from the Pollution Control Department (PCD), Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MNRE), Thailand, for their contribution in the sampling and some laboratory work. The authors also acknowledge Ms. Mattanawadee Hattayanone and Ms. Thanpahtt Chaichombhoo for their contribution on graphic designs.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. NIDA Center for Research and Development of Disaster Prevention and Management, School of Social and Environmental Development, National Institute of Development Administration (NIDA), 118 Moo 3, Sereethai Road, Klong-Chan, Bangkapi, Bangkok, 10240, Thailand

    Siwatt Pongpiachan

  2. Department of Regional Activation, Faculty of Regional Policy, Takasaki City University of Economics, 1300 Kaminamie, Takasaki, Gunma, 370-0801, Japan

    Akihiro Iijima

Authors
  1. Siwatt Pongpiachan
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Akihiro Iijima
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Siwatt Pongpiachan.

Additional information

Responsible editor: Philippe Garrigues

Rights and permissions

Reprints and Permissions

About this article

Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Pongpiachan, S., Iijima, A. Assessment of selected metals in the ambient air PM10 in urban sites of Bangkok (Thailand). Environ Sci Pollut Res 23, 2948–2961 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-015-5877-5

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-015-5877-5

Keywords

  • Metals
  • PM10
  • Multivariate statistics
  • Enrichment factor
  • Bangkok