Thoracic Fraction (PM₁₀) of Resuspended Urban Dust: Geochemistry, Particle Size Distribution and Lung Bioaccessibility

Abstract

A fluidized bed aerosol generator was connected to a 13-stage cascade impactor (nanoMOUDI) for the size fractionation of urban dust (10 (thoracic) fraction of road dust sampled from expressways, arterial roads and local roads in Toronto, Canada. The fine particle fractions (10 (by weight). Elemental analysis using ICP-MS and ICP-OES revealed an overall trend of element enrichment in the p < 0.05) for Zn when using Gamble solution, and for seven out of the 14 target elements when using ammonium citrate. These results show the importance of characterizing the fine fraction of road dust.

Keywords

• inhalation exposure
• airborne particulate matter
• PM₂.₅
• PM mass distribution
• metal solubility
• street dust