Trace Metal Concentrations in Size-Fractionated Urban Atmospheric Particles of Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina

Document Type : Original Research Paper

Authors

1 University of Sarajevo, Faculty of Science; Zmaja od Bosne 33-35, 71000 Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina

2 Università Ca’ Foscari, Department Scienze Ambientali, Dorsoduro 2137 30123 Venezia, Italy

Abstract

A study of the atmospheric particulate size distribution of total suspended particulate matter
(TSPM) and associated heavy metals concentrations has been carried out for the urban part of Sarajevo city,
Bosnia and Herzegovina. Urban particles (n=150) were collected using a high volume air sampler equipped
with a 6-stage impactor. Apart from Fe which has been determined by flame atomic absorption spectrometry
(FAAS), all measurements (Co, Cu, Mn) have been carried out by graphite furnace atomic absorption
spectrometry (GFAAS). The average concentrations of particulate matter are 37%, 18%, 15%, 8%, 15% and
6% (averaged over all the observations) of total suspended particulate for PM< 0.49, PM0.95 – 0.49, PM1.5 -0.95, PM3.0 – 1.5, PM7.2 – 3.0 and PM> 7.2, respectively. Metal concentrations in size-fractionated urban particles ranged from 0.01-3.83 ng/m3 for Co, 6.30-179.20 ng/m3 for Cu, 5.00-208.70 ng/m3 for Mn and 0.35-6.82 g/m3 for Fe. Major concentrations of investigated metals are associated with the PM 7.2-3.0 μm. Overall, the decreasing trend of average trace element concentrations (24-h) in the particulates revealed the following order: Fe>Mn>Cu>Co.

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