Title: Size-resolved dust and aerosol contaminants associated with copper and lead smelting emissions: implications for emission management and human health.

Authors: Csavina, Janae; Taylor, Mark P; Félix, Omar; Rine, Kyle P; Eduardo Sáez, A; Betterton, Eric A

Published In Sci Total Environ, (2014 Sep 15)

Abstract: Mining operations, including crushing, grinding, smelting, refining, and tailings management, are a significant source of airborne metal and metalloid contaminants such as As, Pb and other potentially toxic elements. In this work, we show that size-resolved concentrations of As and Pb generally follow a bimodal distribution with the majority of contaminants in the fine size fraction (<1 μm) around mining activities that include smelting operations at various sites in Australia and Arizona. This evidence suggests that contaminated fine particles (<1 μm) are the result of vapor condensation and coagulation from smelting operations while coarse particles are most likely the result of windblown dust from contaminated mine tailings and fugitive emissions from crushing and grinding activities. These results on the size distribution of contaminants around mining operations are reported to demonstrate the ubiquitous nature of this phenomenon so that more effective emission management and practices that minimize health risks associated with metal extraction and processing can be developed.

PubMed ID: 24995641

MeSH Terms: Aerosols/analysis*; Air Pollutants/analysis*; Air Pollution/prevention & control; Air Pollution/statistics & numerical data; Arizona; Copper/analysis*; Dust/analysis*; Environmental Exposure/prevention & control; Environmental Exposure/statistics & numerical data*; Environmental Monitoring; Humans; Lead/analysis*; Metallurgy