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Toxic trace elements in urban air in Illinois

Technical Report ·
OSTI ID:6959059
; ;
The airborne concentrations and sources of 17 toxic trace elements were evaluated in three polluted urban areas in Illinois: southeast Chicago, East St. Louis, and Granite City. Concentrations and meteorology were monitored between September 1985 and June 1988. Particle size distributions and vapor-particle partitioning were also measured during this period. Using the existing emissions inventories for the study areas, factor analysis and chemical mass balance analysis was applied to the data. This statistical analysis together with monitoring data show that most of the airborne trace elements in excess of background concentrations come from stack and fugitive emissions from heavy industry within the study areas. Elevated levels of chromium and manganese are caused by steel-related activities in Chicago and Granite City. Airborne cadmium, lead, zinc, and copper come from emissions from smelters in East St. Louis and Granite City. In all of these areas, fugitive emissions from wind-blown dust, materials handling, and vehicle traffic are important sources of airborne toxic trace elements. It is concluded that existing standards for airborne inhalable particles do not adequately control the levels of many toxic trace elements and that the first step in the control of these pollutants is to identify the sources of individual elements rather than sources of particulate matter in general.
Research Organization:
Illinois State Water Survey, Champaign, IL (USA)
OSTI ID:
6959059
Report Number(s):
PB-90-173907/XAB
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

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Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
540120* -- Environment
Atmospheric-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (1990-)
AIR POLLUTION
AIR POLLUTION CONTROL
AIR POLLUTION MONITORING
CADMIUM
COMBUSTION PRODUCTS
CONTROL
COPPER
DUSTS
ECOLOGICAL CONCENTRATION
ELEMENTS
FEDERAL REGION V
ILLINOIS
INDUSTRIAL WASTES
LEAD
MATERIALS
MATHEMATICAL MODELS
METALS
NORTH AMERICA
PARTICLE SIZE
PARTICLES
PARTICULATES
POLLUTION
POLLUTION CONTROL
POLLUTION SOURCES
SIZE
TOXIC MATERIALS
TRACE AMOUNTS
TRANSITION ELEMENTS
URBAN AREAS
USA
WASTES
ZINC