Concentration, speciation and risk effects of multiple environmentally sensitive trace elements in respirable fine-grained fly ash.

J Hazard Mater

Environment and Resources College, Shanxi University, No. 92 Wucheng Rd., Taiyuan 030006, China.

Published: March 2024

AI Article Synopsis

  • Respirable fine-grained fly ash (RFA) from power plants is poorly captured by air purification devices, raising concerns about health risks due to its fine particle size and toxic composition.
  • Study analyzed the concentration and risk effects of trace elements in RFA of varying sizes (8-13 µm), finding that smaller particle sizes posed higher chronic and carcinogenic risk levels.
  • Key factors influencing health risks included the weight of exposed individuals, trace element concentration, and ingestion rate, with specific trace elements (like arsenic and nickel) identified as having the most significant ecological impacts.

Article Abstract

Respirable fine-grained fly ash (RFA) is captured very inefficiently by existing air purification devices of power plant, leading to increasing concerns regarding their migration and subsequent interaction with body due to fine particle size and its complex toxic composition. Trace elements of RFA in three groups with five different sizes between 8-13 µm were analyzed in terms of available concentration, speciation and risk effects. The concentration, pollution level and ecological risk level of elements in RFA were related to particle sizes. Chronic non-carcinogenic effect risk (NER) and carcinogenic effect risk (CER) were negatively correlated with particle size. The individual weight of exposed subjects, corresponding trace elements concentration and ingestion rate in RFA were three significant variables influencing CER. NER and CER had a tenfold exaggerated effect when calculated using total element concentration of RFA. In addition to individual differences and exposure conditions, trace element properties, speciation and available concentration were the dominant factor responsible for ecological and environmental effects of trace elements in RFA, following the order As>Ni, Mn>Cr>Pb>Cu>Zn. Results of this work highlight the effects and differences of trace elements in RFA on ecology and health, and provide a basis for further pollution control and human health warning.

Download full-text PDF

Source
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jhazmat.2023.133387DOI Listing

Publication Analysis

Top Keywords

trace elements
20
elements rfa
16
concentration speciation
8
speciation risk
8
risk effects
8
respirable fine-grained
8
fine-grained fly
8
fly ash
8
particle size
8
rfa three
8

Similar Publications

Inter-Island Variability in Trace Elements and Trophic Ecology of Brown Booby (Sula leucogaster) in the South Atlantic.

Environ Pollut

January 2025

Olaf Malm Laboratory of Environmental Studies (LEA-OM), Carlos Chagas Filho Biophysics Institute (IBCCF), Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), 21941-902, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; Laboratory of Oceanology, Freshwater and Oceanic Sciences Unit of Research (FOCUS), University of Liege, Belgium.

This study investigates essential (Mg, Ca, Fe, Mn, Cu, Zn, Se, Ni) and non-essential (Li, Be, Cr, Rb, Sr, Cs, Cd, Sn, Ba, and Pb) element concentrations and stable isotope (δC, δN, δS) compositions in feathers of Brown Boobies (Sula leucogaster) from three distinct Atlantic islands: the Archipelagos of Saint Peter and Saint Paul (SPSP), Abrolhos, and Cagarras. We aimed to investigate the ecological and environmental factors influencing these seabird populations and assess potential variations in contaminant exposure and dietary habits based on location, sex, and maturity stages. Our finding revealed significant geographical differences in trace element concentrations.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Particle emissions study from tire sample with nano-silver tracer from different steps of its life cycle. A new approach to trace emissions of tire microparticles.

Sci Total Environ

January 2025

Direction Milieux et impacts sur le vivant, Institut National de l'Environnement Industriel et des Risques (INERIS), Verneuil en Halatte, France.

Emissions due to tires retread/repair and incineration are a cause of concern owing to the presence of nanoparticles in the products. The assessment exposure to humans hereto related is a challenge in an environmental context. The first object of this work is to develop a method to characterize the emission sources using online (counting and sizing) and offline measurements.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Spent mushroom substrate: A review on present and future of green applications.

J Environ Manage

January 2025

School of Energy and Environmental Engineering, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing, 100083, China.

The cultivation of edible mushrooms plays a significant role in revitalizing numerous rural regions in China. However, this process generates a large amount of spent mushroom substrate (SMS). Traditional methods for handling SMS, such as random stacking and incineration, lead to resource waste and environmental pollution.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Autumn and winter air phytofiltration - Are plants able to biofilter air during peak pollutant emissions?

J Environ Manage

January 2025

Section of Basic Research in Horticulture, Department of Plant Protection, Institute of Horticultural Sciences, Warsaw University of Life Sciences-SGGW (WULS-SGGW), Nowoursynowska 159, 02-776, Warsaw, Poland; Centre for Climate Research SGGW, Warsaw University of Life Sciences-SGGW (WULS-SGGW), Nowoursynowska 166, 02-787, Warsaw, Poland. Electronic address:

Air pollution is highest in winter. The high concentration of particulate matter (PM) and trace elements (TE) after the growing season is influenced by increased pollutant emissions, unfavorable meteorological conditions, and the low efficiency of air phytofiltration. Plants that can remove pollutants from the air during the growing season are leafless in autumn/winter, and therefore unable to capture PM/TE effectively.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Ecotoxicology of cephalopod early life phases: review and perspectives.

Environ Sci Pollut Res Int

January 2025

Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Centro Interdisciplinario de Ciencias Marinas, Av. Instituto Politécnico Nacional S/N, Playa Palo de Santa Rita, C.P. 23096, La Paz, Baja California Sur, Mexico.

The present review provides the first analysis and synthesis of the available scientific information on the effects of anthropogenic contaminants on cephalopod embryos, paralarvae, and juveniles. We evaluated 46 articles published between 1970 and 2023 that focused on trace elements (69%), pharmaceutical compounds (11%), persistent organic compounds (11%), and plastics (9%). To date, the greatest scientific effort has originated from Europe and Asia (France [57%], China [9%], Italy [7%], and Spain [4%]), with few reports available from the rest of the world.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Want AI Summaries of new PubMed Abstracts delivered to your In-box?

Enter search terms and have AI summaries delivered each week - change queries or unsubscribe any time!