Skip to main content
Log in

Monitoring of ambient particles and heavy metals in a residential area of Seoul, Korea

  • Published:
Environmental Monitoring and Assessment Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

In this study, ambient TSP, PM10, and PM2.5 in a residential area located in the northern part of Seoul were monitored every other month for 1 year from April 2005 to February 2006. The monthly average levels of TSP, PM10, and PM2.5 had ranges of 71∼158, 40∼106, and 28∼43 μg/m3, respectively. TSP and PM10 showed highest concentration in April; this seems to be due to Asian dust from China and/or Mongolia. However, the fine particle of PM2.5 showed a relatively constant level during the monitoring period. Heavy metals in PM 10 and PM2.5, such as Cr, As, Cd, Mn, Zn and Pb, were also analysed during the same period. The monthly average concentrations of heavy metal in PM2.5 were Cr:1.9∼22.7 ng/m3; As:0.9∼2.5 ng/m3; Cd: 0.6∼7 ng/m3; Mn:6.1∼22.6 ng/m3; Zn: 38.9∼204.8 ng/m3, and Pb: 21.6 metals in ambient particles, excess cancer risks were calculated using IRIS unit risk. 201.1 ng/m3. For the health risk assessment of heavy metals in ambient particles, excess cancer risks were calculated using IRIS unit risk. As a result, the excess cancer risks of chromium, cadmium, and arsenic were shown to be more than one per million based on the annual concentration of heavy metals, and chromium showed the highest excess cancer risk in ambient particles in Seoul.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

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

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Chang, C. C., Tsai, S. S., Ho, S. C., & Yang, C. Y. (2005). Air pollution and hospital admissions for cardiovascular disease in Taipei, Taiwan. Environmental Research, 98, 114’119.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • De Hartog, J. J., Hoek, G., Mirme, A., Tuch, T., Kos, G. P., ten Brink, H. M., et al. (2005). Relation between different size classes of particulate matter and meteorology in three European cities. Journal of Environmental Monitoring, 7, 302–310.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Freitas, M. C., Farinha, M. M., Ventura, M. G., Almeida, S. M., Reis, M. A., & Pacheco, A. M. (2005). Gravimetric and chemical features of airborne PM10 AND PM2.5 in mainland Portugal. Environmental Monitoring Assessment, 109, 81–95.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hart, J. E., Laden, F., Schenker, M. B., & Garshick, E. (2006). Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease mortality in diesel-exposed railroad workers. Environmental Health Perspectives, 114, 1013–1017.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Karar, K., Gupta, A. K., Kumar, A., & Biswas, A. K. (2006). Characterization and identification of the sources of chromium, zinc, lead, cadmium, nickel, manganese and iron in pm(10) particulates at the two sites of kolkata, India. Environmental Monitoring Assessment, 120, 347–360.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kim, K. H., Choi, G. H., Kang, C. H., Lee, J. H., Kim, J. Y., Youn, Y. H., et al. (2003). The chemical composition of fine and coarse particles in relation with the Asian Dust events. Atmospheric Environment, 37, 753–765.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Korea MOE (Ministry of Environment) (2004). Annual report of ambient air quality in Korea.

  • Kuhlbusch, T. A., Neumann, S., & Fissan, H. (2004). Number size distribution, mass concentration, and particle composition of PM1, PM2.5, and PM10 in bag filling areas of carbon black production. Journal of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene, 1, 660–671.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kwon, H. J., Cho, S. H., Chun, Y., Lagarde, F., & Pershagen, G. (2002). Effects of the Asian dust events on daily mortality in Seoul, Korea. Environmental Research, 90, 1–5.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lee, B. K., Jun, N. Y., & Lee, H. K. (2004). Comparison of particulate matter characteristics before, during, and after Asian dust events in Incheon and Ulsan, Korea. Atmospheric Environment, 38, 1535–1545.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Mouli, P. C., Mohan, S. V., Balaram, V., Kumar, M. P., & Reddy, S. J. (2006). A study on trace elemental composition of atmospheric aerosols at a semi-arid urban site using ICP-MS technique. Atmospheric Environment, 40, 136–146.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Samara, C., & Voutsa, D. (2005). Size distribution of airborne particulate matter and associated heavy metals in the roadside environment. Chemosphere, 59, 1197–1206.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Szafraniec, K., & Jedrychowski, W. (2001). Spatial variability and trends in ambient air concentrations of metals in Cracow, Poland 14, 261–265.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • US EPA (1989). Risk assessment guidance for superfund volume I. Human health evaluation manual (Part A), 540/1-89/002.

  • US EPA (1990). Air quality planning and standards, National Ambient Air Quality Standards(NAAQs).

  • US EPA (1998). Integrated Risk Information System, IRIS Substance List.

  • US EPA (2004). Region 9, Preliminary remediation goals, air-water calculations.

  • US EPA (2005). Guidelines for carcinogen risk assessment and supplemental guidance for assessing susceptibility from early-life exposure to carcinogens. Guidelines for carcinogen risk assessment, EPA/630/P-03/001f, 2005. Research and development, National Center for Environmental Assessment.

  • Wilson, A. M., Salloway, J. C., Wake, C. P., & Kelly. T. (2004). Air pollution and the demand for hospital services: A review. Environment International, 30, 1109–1118.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Kwangsik Park.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Park, Ej., Kim, Ds. & Park, K. Monitoring of ambient particles and heavy metals in a residential area of Seoul, Korea. Environ Monit Assess 137, 441–449 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-007-9779-y

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-007-9779-y

Keywords

Navigation