Measuring magnetic susceptibility of particulate matter collected on filters.

The magnetic susceptibility (κ) of particulate matter (PM) is a useful tool in estimation concentration of iron-rich particles and provides useful information on the emission sources and pathways of spread of PM in the atmosphere. However, there is currently no established protocol for measuring the magnetic susceptibility of PM collected on filters used in standard monitoring of PM concentration. This paper presents a step-by-step process for collecting PM on filters in automatic samplers and measuring their κ.

Technogenic magnetic particles in topsoil: Characteristic features for different emission sources.

Variations in mineralogical composition, grain size internal structure and stoichiometry of technogenic magnetic particles (TMPs) deposited in topsoil may provide crucial information necessary to trace main pollution sources and recognize various technological processes. The aim of the study was to characterize, by means of magnetic parameters and Mössbauer spectra, the TMPs from non-ferrous metallurgy, cement, coke, glass production as well as long range transport (LRT) and compare the obtained data with previous results focused on iron mining and metallurgy. This research shows that only certain pollution sources (e.

Integration of chemical fractionation, Mössbauer spectrometry, and magnetic methods for identification of Fe phases bonding heavy metals in street dust.

Street dust is one of the most important carriers of heavy metals (HMs) originating from natural and anthropogenic sources. The main purpose of the work was to identify which of Fe-bearing phases bind HMs in street dust. Magnetic parameters of the Fe-bearing components, mainly magnetically strong iron oxides, are used to assess the level of HM pollution.

Technogenic magnetic particles from steel metallurgy and iron mining in topsoil: Indicative characteristic by magnetic parameters and Mössbauer spectra.

Technogenic magnetic particles (TMPs), produced during various industrial processes, are released into the atmosphere as dust and get deposited on the surrounding topsoil. The mineralogical and structural differences of TMPs produced in different technological processes should be reflected in their magnetic properties and therefore should be indicative for industrial pollution sources. The goal of this study was to characterize the TMPs by novel methodological approach, based on combination of magnetic methods and Mössbauer spectroscopy to indicate parameters that are discriminative enough to be used as environmental indicators for iron metallurgy, steel production, and iron mining.

Concentration of heavy metals in street dust: an implication of using different geochemical background data in estimating the level of heavy metal pollution.

Geochemical background data are used to distinguish between the sources of heavy metal (natural or anthropogenic) and to categorize the level of heavy metal pollution. In this study, we present the results of using different geochemical backgrounds (BG1-BG3) to establish the level of heavy metal pollution in street dust in Warsaw, Poland. We applied individual and collective indicators calculated with respect to the following backgrounds: (1) upper continental crust (UCC) (BG1), (2) the regional geochemical background established for Quaternary surface deposits of the Mazovian region (Poland) (parent geological material occurring in the studied area, Warsaw, Poland) (BG2), and (3) the minimal values of the concentration of heavy metals determined for the real street dust sample collectives from Warsaw (BG3).

Assessment of heavy metal pollution in Vistula river (Poland) sediments by using magnetic methods.

The present study evaluated the level of heavy metal (HM) pollution in Vistula river sediments in a highly urbanized Warsaw agglomeration (Poland). Magnetometry was used to assess the pollution level by measuring the fine fractions (0.071 mm and < 0.

Effective and universal tool for evaluating heavy metals-passive dust samplers.

The study presents designating, accomplishing, optimizing, and validating a new tool - "passive sampler" (PS) that can be effectively used as a proxy to assess the level of traffic-related pollution. To construct the PS, a drainage pipe filled with a mixture of coarse sand and peat in a volume ratio of 1:1 was used; this was previously verified to exhibit high ability to accumulate pollutants. Magnetic methods supplemented with chemical method evaluating heavy metal content and electron microscopic observations were used to detect the effectiveness of the PS.

Magnetic study of a mixture of magnetite and metallic iron in indoor dust samples.

Magnetite in mixture with metallic iron in indoor dust samples was examined using several magnetic analyses, thermomagnetic curves of the magnetic susceptibility and the induced magnetization vs. temperature, hysteresis loops, and first-order reversal curves. The study of the magnetic properties was supplemented by the analysis of chemical elements and electron microscopic observation.