Particle-bound mercury in Saharan dust-loaded particulate matter in Cabo Verde
Year: 2024
Type: article
Abstract: (PM2.5) during non-dust events representing 2.21- and 13.3-fold increases, respectively. The PM10/PM2.5 PBM ratio was 2.19 during dust and 13.1 in non-dust events, highlighting the role of coarse particles during non-dust periods. Air mass trajectories and elemental markers associate PBM sources to mineral dust, mining, oceanic emissions, and biomass burning. Health risk assessment indicates higher inhalation risk compared to dermal or ingestion pathways. By comparing the PBM concentrations during dust and non-dust events, for PM10, dust and long-range transport contributed about 63 % to the average PBM concentration in urban and 52 % in the rural areas and enriched PBM levels in PM2.5 by about 84 % (urban) and 94 % (rural). This result indicates that fine-mode PM is significantly enriched with PBM during dust events, elevating exposure risks and associated health impacts.
Source: Journal of Hazardous Materials
Language: English
Subfield: Health, Toxicology and Mutagenesis
Field: Environmental Science
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: hybrid
Estimated APC paid: $4,340
Funder: Leibniz-Gemeinschaft
Award: G6063529608
OpenAlex ID: W4405905191