Antimony as a tracer of non-exhaust traffic emissions in air pollution in Granada (S Spain) using lichen bioindicators. (August 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Parviainen, Annika; Papaslioti, Evgenia Maria; Casares-Porcel, Manuel; Garrido, Carlos J.
• Is Part Of: Environmental pollution. Volume 263(2020)Supplement Part A
• Publication Date: 2020-08
• Subjects: Metal(loid) air pollution -- Lichen Xanthoria parietina -- Antimony -- Non-exhaust emissions -- Brake wear; Pollution -- Periodicals; Pollution -- Environmental aspects -- Periodicals; Environmental Pollution -- Periodicals; Pollution -- Périodiques; Pollution -- Aspect de l'environnement -- Périodiques; Pollution -- Effets physiologiques -- Périodiques; Pollution; Pollution -- Environmental aspects; Periodicals; Electronic journals; 363.73
• DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2020.114482
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0269-7491

Abstract

Abstract: We have studied the metal air pollution trends in a medium-sized Spanish city suffering from traffic emission using in-situ lichen Xanthoria parietina as a bioindicator. The large scale sampling included 97 samples from urban, metropolitan and remote control areas of Granada that were analyzed by Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrometry. Enrichment factor of Sb exhibited severe anthropogenic enrichment, whereas Cu and Sb showed significantly higher median values in the urban areas with respect to metropolitan areas. Additionally, bioaccumulation ratios of V, Cr, Ni, Cu, Zn, Cd, Sb, and Pb —associated to exhaust and non-exhaust traffic emissions— enabled us to delineate hot spots of metal(loid) accumulation in the main accesses to the city, characterized by dense traffic and copious traffic jams. To distinguish non-exhaust emissions, we studied the spatial distribution of the Cu:Sb ratio —a tracer of brake wear— highlighting the surroundings of the highway and the main traffic accesses to the city likely due to sudden hard braking and acceleration during frequent traffic jams. Our study shows that the metal(loid) contents in lichens are excellent proxies for non-exhaust traffic emissions and that their contribution to the metal(loid) air pollution in Granada is more significant than previously thought. Graphical abstract: Image 1 Highlights: We studied metal(loid) air pollution in Granada (Spain) using lichen bioindicators. Antimony exhibits severe anthropogenic enrichment in the urban areas. High and severe metal(loid) bioaccumulation occur along high-traffic streets. Non-exhaust traffic emissions are suggested as the main source of metal (loid)s. Cu:Sb ratio is used as a tracer of brake wear. Abstract : A large scale sampling of X. parietina in a polluted city unveils previously unrecognized non-exhaust emission hotspots with Sb as an outstanding proxy for monitoring in urban areas.