title: Comparison of trace elements in size-fractionated particles in two communities with contrasting socioeconomic status in Houston, TX.
abstract: Levels of ambient air pollutants, including particulate matter (PM), are often higher in low-socioeconomic status (SES) communities than in high-SES communities. Houston is the fourth largest city in the USA and is home to a large petrochemical industry, an active port, and congested roadways, which represent significant emission sources of air pollution in the region. To compare levels of air pollution between a low-SES and a high-SES community, we simultaneously collected a 7-day integrated size-fractionated PM between June 2013 and November 2013. We analyzed PM mass and elements for three particle size modes: quasi-ultrafine particles (quasi-UFP) (aerodynamic diameter <0.25 μm), accumulation mode particles (0.25-2.5 μm), and coarse mode particles (>2.5 μm). Concentrations of vanadium, nickel, manganese, and iron in the quasi-UFP mode were significantly higher in the low-SES community than in the high-SES community. In the accumulation and coarse modes, concentrations of crustal elements and barium were also significantly higher in the low-SES community compared to the high-SES community. These findings suggest that people living in the low-SES community may experience higher exposures to some toxic elements as compared to people in the high-SES community.
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology, Human Genetics, and Environmental Sciences, University of Texas Health Science Center School of Public Health, 1200 Pressler Street, Houston, TX, 77030, USA. Inkyu.Han@uth.tmc.edu.|Southwest Center for Occupational and Environmental Health, 1200 Pressler Street, Houston, TX, 77030, USA. Inkyu.Han@uth.tmc.edu.
authors.forename: Inkyu
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Han
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology, Human Genetics, and Environmental Sciences, University of Texas Health Science Center School of Public Health, 1200 Pressler Street, Houston, TX, 77030, USA.
authors.forename: Yuncan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Guo
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology, Human Genetics, and Environmental Sciences, University of Texas Health Science Center School of Public Health, 1200 Pressler Street, Houston, TX, 77030, USA.|Southwest Center for Occupational and Environmental Health, 1200 Pressler Street, Houston, TX, 77030, USA.
authors.forename: Masoud
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Afshar
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology, Human Genetics, and Environmental Sciences, University of Texas Health Science Center School of Public Health, 1200 Pressler Street, Houston, TX, 77030, USA.|Southwest Center for Occupational and Environmental Health, 1200 Pressler Street, Houston, TX, 77030, USA.
authors.forename: Thomas H
authors.initials: TH
authors.lastname: Stock
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology, Human Genetics, and Environmental Sciences, University of Texas Health Science Center School of Public Health, 1200 Pressler Street, Houston, TX, 77030, USA.|Southwest Center for Occupational and Environmental Health, 1200 Pressler Street, Houston, TX, 77030, USA.
authors.forename: Elaine
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Symanski
mesh_terms: D000393:Air Pollutants / Q000032:analysis*; D000397:Air Pollution / Q000032:analysis; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D006801:Humans; D007221:Industry; D007501:Iron / Q000032:analysis; D008970:Molecular Weight; D010316:Particle Size; D052638:Particulate Matter / Q000032:analysis*; D012111:Residence Characteristics; D012923:Social Class; D013781:Texas; D014131:Trace Elements / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D000393:Air Pollutants; D052638:Particulate Matter; D014131:Trace Elements; D007501:Iron
keywords: Accumulation particle; Coarse particle; Quasi-ultrafine particles; Socioeconomic status; Trace elements