Geochemical anomalies of toxic elements and arsenic speciation in airborne particles from Cu mining and smelting activities: influence on air quality.
A characterization of chemical composition and source contribution of PM10 in three representative environments of southwest Spain related to mining activities (mineral extraction, mining waste and Cu-smelting) has been performed. A study of geochemical anomalies was conducted in the samples collected at the three stations between July 2012 and October 2013. The influence of Cu-smelting processes was compared to other mining activities, where common tracers were identified. The Cu and As concentrations in the study area are higher than in other rural and urban stations of Spain, in which geochemical anomalies of As, Se, Bi, Cd, and Pb have been reported. The results of source contribution showed similar geochemical signatures in the industrial and mining factors. However, the contribution to PM10 is different according to the type of industrial activity. These results have been confirmed performing an arsenic speciation analysis of the PM10 samples, in which the mean extraction efficiency of arsenic depended on the origin of the samples. These finding indicate that the atmospheric particulate matter emitted from Cu-smelting has a high residence time in the atmosphere. This indicates that the Cu-smelter can impact areas of high ecological interest and considered as clean air.
Associate Unit CSIC - University of Huelva "Atmospheric Pollution", Center for Research in Sustainable Chemistry - CIQSO, University of Huelva, Huelva, Spain; Department of Geology, Faculty of Experimental Sciences, University of Huelva, Huelva, Spain. Electronic address: ana.sanchez@pi.uhu.es.
Ana M
AM
Sánchez de la Campa
Associate Unit CSIC - University of Huelva "Atmospheric Pollution", Center for Research in Sustainable Chemistry - CIQSO, University of Huelva, Huelva, Spain; Department of Chemistry and Science of Materials, Faculty of Experimental Sciences, University of Huelva, Huelva, Spain.
Daniel
D
Sánchez-Rodas
Associate Unit CSIC - University of Huelva "Atmospheric Pollution", Center for Research in Sustainable Chemistry - CIQSO, University of Huelva, Huelva, Spain; Department of Geology, Faculty of Experimental Sciences, University of Huelva, Huelva, Spain.
Yolanda
Y
González Castanedo
Associate Unit CSIC - University of Huelva "Atmospheric Pollution", Center for Research in Sustainable Chemistry - CIQSO, University of Huelva, Huelva, Spain; Department of Geology, Faculty of Experimental Sciences, University of Huelva, Huelva, Spain; Agrifood Campus of International Excellence CEIA3, Spain; Campus of International Excellence of the Sea CEIMAR, Spain.
Jesús D
JD
de la Rosa
D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational / Q000032:analysis*; D000397:Air Pollution / Q000032:analysis*; D003300:Copper / Q000737:chemistry*; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods; D008669:Metallurgy; D008906:Mining; D052638:Particulate Matter; D012621:Seasons; D013030:Spain; D014919:Wind
D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational; D052638:Particulate Matter; D003300:Copper
As speciation; Iberian Pyrite Belt; PM(10); Toxic elements