title: Determination of heavy metals in the ambient atmosphere.
abstract: Heavy metal determination in ambient air is an important task for environmental researchers because of their toxicity to human beings. Some heavy metals (hexavalent chromium (Cr), arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd) and nickel (Ni)) have been listed as carcinogens. Furthermore, heavy metals in the atmosphere can accumulate in various plants and animals and enter humans through the food chain. This article reviews the determination of heavy metals in the atmosphere in different areas of the world since 2006. The results showed that most researchers concentrated on toxic metals, such as Cr, Cd, Ni, As and lead. A few studies used plant materials as bio-monitors for the atmospheric levels of heavy metals. Some researchers found higher concentrations of heavy metals surrounding industrial areas compared with residential and/or commercial areas. Most studies reported the major sources of the particulate matter and heavy metals in the atmosphere to be industrial emissions, vehicular emissions and secondary aerosols.
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental Engineering, Yeungnam University, Gyeongsan-Si, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Lakshmi Narayana
authors.initials: LN
authors.lastname: Suvarapu
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental Engineering, Yeungnam University, Gyeongsan-Si, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Sung-Ok
authors.initials: SO
authors.lastname: Baek
mesh_terms: D000393:Air Pollutants / Q000032:analysis*; D001151:Arsenic / Q000032:analysis; D002104:Cadmium / Q000032:analysis; D002857:Chromium / Q000032:analysis; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D019216:Metals, Heavy / Q000032:analysis*; D009532:Nickel / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D000393:Air Pollutants; D019216:Metals, Heavy; D002104:Cadmium; D002857:Chromium; C074702:chromium hexavalent ion; D009532:Nickel; D001151:Arsenic
keywords: Heavy metals; ambient air; particulate matter