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Lead source and bioaccessibility in windowsill dusts within a Pb smelting-affected area
Citation:
Xing, W., H. Yang, J. Ippolito, Y. Zhang, K. Scheckel, AND L. Li. Lead source and bioaccessibility in windowsill dusts within a Pb smelting-affected area. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION. Elsevier Science Ltd, New York, NY, 266(2):115110, (2020). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2020.115110
Impact/Purpose:
Lead (Pb) is a common environmental heavy metal pollutant (Ettler et al., 2004; Li et al., 2020). Environmental Pb accumulation arises from sources including nonferrous mining and smelting, past leaded gasoline combustion and wall paint. Widespread environmental Pb accumulation has been found in many countries, along with elevated residential blood Pb concentrations (Ettler et al., 2014; Qiu et al., 2016; Lee et al., 2020; Wu et al., 2020). Compared to other commonly found heavy metal contaminants in the environment (e.g., Cd, Cu, As and Zn), Pb has its advantages in environmental studies due to its isotopic properties that can be used for pollution source assessment. The stable Pb isotope is regarded as a powerful tool for Pb source identification in contaminated soils, particulates derived from lead ore smelting, coal burning and gasoline combustion (Ettler et al., 2004; Cheng and Hu, 2010; Cheema et al., 2020). Thus, the purpose of this workwas to investigate the distribution, source and bioaccessibility of Pb in windowsill dusts collected from different building heights and varying distances in an area affected by Pb smelting activities.
Description:
Windowsill, heavy metal-containing dust samples, collected at different building heights, may provide some insight into both source and human health risk. Windowsill dust samples were collected from the 1st to 9th floor (1.4e23.2 m above ground) near a lead smelter (1 km to the smelter) and in urban areas (4.2e7.3 km to the smelter) and separated into <10, 10e45 and 45e125 mm size fractions. Samples were extracted with artificial lysosomal fluid (ALF) and the physiologically based extraction test (PBET) (<10 mm fractions only), subjected to scanning electron microscopy-energy dispersive x-ray spectroscopy (SEM-EDS) and Pb isotopic analysis. Greater Pb concentrations were found in 10e45 mm fraction than the other size fractions; at the PX site, dust Pb concentrations increased with windowsill height, while an opposite trend was found at other sites. Isotopic analysis and SEM-EDS results supported this contention. Higher floor samples collected near the smelter were more affected by lead smelting than lower floor samples; lower floor samples collected at urban sites were more affected by resuspended Pb-laden particles from the ground than higher floors. The Pb bioaccessible fraction (BAF) in the ALF and PBET ranged between 68.9-90.1 and 1.3e17.0%, respectively; urban samples had greater BAF values than samples collected near the smelter. This, first of its kind investigation regarding Pb in dusts at different building heights, provides further insight for reducing human health risks within Pb smelter vicinities.
URLs/Downloads:
DOI: Lead source and bioaccessibility in windowsill dusts within a Pb smelting-affected area
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