title: Use of lead isotopes to identify sources of metal and metalloid contaminants in atmospheric aerosol from mining operations.
abstract: Mining operations are a potential source of metal and metalloid contamination by atmospheric particulate generated from smelting activities, as well as from erosion of mine tailings. In this work, we show how lead isotopes can be used for source apportionment of metal and metalloid contaminants from the site of an active copper mine. Analysis of atmospheric aerosol shows two distinct isotopic signatures: one prevalent in fine particles (<1μm aerodynamic diameter) while the other corresponds to coarse particles as well as particles in all size ranges from a nearby urban environment. The lead isotopic ratios found in the fine particles are equal to those of the mine that provides the ore to the smelter. Topsoil samples at the mining site show concentrations of Pb and As decreasing with distance from the smelter. Isotopic ratios for the sample closest to the smelter (650m) and from topsoil at all sample locations, extending to more than 1km from the smelter, were similar to those found in fine particles in atmospheric dust. The results validate the use of lead isotope signatures for source apportionment of metal and metalloid contaminants transported by atmospheric particulate.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA.
authors.forename: Omar I
authors.initials: OI
authors.lastname: Félix
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA.
authors.forename: Janae
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Csavina
authors.affiliation: Department of Atmospheric Sciences, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA.
authors.forename: Jason
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Field
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA.
authors.forename: Kyle P
authors.initials: KP
authors.lastname: Rine
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA. Electronic address: esaez@email.arizona.edu.
authors.forename: A Eduardo
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Sáez
authors.affiliation: Department of Atmospheric Sciences, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA.
authors.forename: Eric A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Betterton
mesh_terms: D000336:Aerosols / Q000032:analysis; D000393:Air Pollutants / Q000032:analysis*; D001130:Arizona; D001151:Arsenic / Q000032:analysis*; D003300:Copper; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods; D007554:Isotopes / Q000032:analysis; D007854:Lead / Q000032:analysis*; D008906:Mining; D052638:Particulate Matter / Q000032:analysis*; D012989:Soil Pollutants / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D000336:Aerosols; D000393:Air Pollutants; D007554:Isotopes; D052638:Particulate Matter; D012989:Soil Pollutants; D007854:Lead; D003300:Copper; D001151:Arsenic
keywords: Dust and aerosol; Lead isotopes; MOUDI; Metal and metalloid contamination; Smelting