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Stable Isotopes of Sr and Pb as Tracers of Sources of Airborne Particulate Matter in Kyrgyzstan
Citation:
Dewan, N., B. Majestic, M. Ketterer, J. Miller-Schulze, M. Shafer, J. Schauer, P. Solomon, M. Artamonova, B. Chen, S. Imashev, AND G. Carmichael. Stable Isotopes of Sr and Pb as Tracers of Sources of Airborne Particulate Matter in Kyrgyzstan. AAAR Annual Meeting, Orlando, FL, October 20 - 24, 2014.
Impact/Purpose:
The National Exposure Research Laboratory (NERL) Human Exposure and Atmospheric Sciences Division (HEASD) conducts research in support of EPA mission to protect human health and the environment. HEASD research program supports Goal 1 (Clean Air) and Goal 4 (Healthy People) of EPA strategic plan. More specifically, our division conducts research to characterize the movement of pollutants from the source to contact with humans. Our multidisciplinary research program produces Methods, Measurements, and Models to identify relationships between and characterize processes that link source emissions, environmental concentrations, human exposures, and target-tissue dose. The impact of these tools is improved regulatory programs and policies for EPA.
Description:
ConclusionsElemental concentrations were higher at the LIDAR site compared to the Bishkek site. Also, concentrations were higher during dust than non-dust events at both sites.The Sr isotopic ratios suggest dust from another region, such as from Western China, Africa, or Middle Eastern regions, may also be involved in the origin of PM in Kyrgyzstan.Kyrgyzstan soils and Aral Sea sediments have natural Pb whereas airborne PM is dominated by local anthropogenic sources and not by windblown dust from Aral Sea and local soils.
