Journal of
Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology

  • Abbreviation: J. Environ. Chem. Ecotoxicol.
  • Language: English
  • ISSN: 2141-226X
  • DOI: 10.5897/JECE
  • Start Year: 2009
  • Published Articles: 197

Full Length Research Paper

Seasonal variations in airborne heavy metals in Vanderbijlpark, South Africa

S. J. Moja
  • S. J. Moja
  • Department of Environmental Sciences, Florida Campus, University of South Africa, P.O. Box X6, Florida, 1710, South Africa
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J. S. Mnisi
  • J. S. Mnisi
  • Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Applied and Computer Sciences, Vaal University of Technology, Private Bag X021, Vanderbijlpark, 1900, South Africa
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  •  Accepted: 15 August 2013
  •  Published: 30 September 2013

Abstract

 

In this study, monthly settleable dust samples were collected in four seasons using the modified crude single open bucket units at five sites within the Vanderbijlpark area. The samples were captured in distilled water medium, filtered, air-dried, weighed to determine mass concentrations, digested with aqua regia acid solution and analyzed for heavy metals by inductively coupled plasma (ICP) 6000 Thermo-Electron modeltechnique. The average ranges of ten metals identified were: zinc (Zn,1.12 – 5.87 mg/L), iron (Fe, 2.25 –8.94 mg/L), chromium (Cr, 0.87 – 3.99 mg/L), titanium (Ti, 0.58 – 3.1 mg/L), manganese (Mn, 2.31 – 9.01 mg/L), lead (Pb, 0.5 – 2.34 mg/L), vanadium (V, 0.94 – 4.18) mg/L), copper (Cu, 0.78 – 3.01 mg/L),  nickel (Ni, 0.7 – 3.64 mg/L) and cadmium (Cd, 1.0 – 2.92 mg/L) respectively. Average daily mass concentrations obtained ranged from 2.42 – 1270 mg/m2/day in autumn, 520 – 1520 mg/m2/day in winter, 142 – 683 mg/m2/day in spring and 156 – 846 mg/m2/day in summer. Both the South African and the American industrial limits were exceeded in winter and autumn seasons at a farm site. A South African standard for residential limit, 600 mg/m2/day, was also exceeded at a school site during the same seasons.

 

Key words: Settleable dust,mass concentration; heavy metals, Vanderbijlpark.