Back to Annual Meeting Page		American Public Health Association 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition December 10-14, 2005 Philadelphia, PA

Abstract #112817

Marilyn M. Williams, BA, MS, Environmental Occupational Health, University of South Florida, 13201 Bruce B. Downs Blvd., Tampa, FL 33612, (813)974-6659, mwillia2@hsc.usf.edu

Inhaled particulate matter (including heavy metals) is known to adversely affect human health by causing morbidity and mortality associated with cardiopulmonary and neurodegenerative diseases. Source apportionment can be used to identify exposure of metals in sources to the urban atmosphere.

In spring 2004, topsoils from twenty locations in the Tampa Bay area were collected from urban, rural, industrial and coastal sites to obtain regional elemental composition and concentrations. The soils were re-suspended onto filters in the PM_10-2.5 and PM_2.5 fractions, which are representative of the inhalable fraction of human lungs and were analyzed by x-ray fluorescence spectrometry (XRF). Fifteen of the 43 metals analyzed were detected at least 3x the uncertainty (e.g., 1-sigma). These elements in decreasing mass fraction were Ca<Si<Fe<S<Ti<K<Zn<Pb<Mn<Cu<V<Br<Ni<Hg<Cl. The identification of vanadium and nickel in the PM_2.5 fraction from the coastal and industrial sites indicates deposits from an oil-fired power plant. Lead in the PM_10-2.5 and PM_2.5 was found in all land uses with the greatest mass fraction in the industrial and urban areas, possibly related to leaded gasoline. A significant amount was found adjacent to a battery facility, which has been under scrutiny by the county environmental protection agency. Ca, Fe, Ti and Cu, which represents fly ash from coal burning power plants, were identified in all four land uses with majority being in the urban and industrial PM_2.5 fraction. Hg was found in the PM_2.5 fraction at Port Ybor (downtown Tampa) and in the PM_10-2.5 fraction at Coronet (a former phosphate processing facility).

Learning Objectives:

• 1.Understand the health implications of metals exposure by atmosphereic particulates.
• 2.Identify regional exposure levels of metals.
• 3.Indentiy sources of metals that can be related world-wide.

Keywords: Air Pollutants, Environmental Health Hazards

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

I wish to disclose that I have NO financial interests or other relationship with the manufactures of commercial products, suppliers of commercial services or commercial supporters.