Project 8: Characterization of Wind Blown Dust from Tailings and other Mining

来自尾矿和其他采矿作业的大气粉尘是干旱西南部砷，铅和其他有毒元素的潜在重要人类暴露途径，随着预测的区域气候变化和人口增长，在这里和其他地方将变得越来越重要。采矿作业排放的尘埃颗粒会使微量金属流动，然后在土壤、自然沃茨和植被中积累。人类可通过吸入和（特别是儿童）偶然摄入粉尘而接触粉尘。该项目将使用微孔均匀存款撞击式采样器收集大气气溶胶在10个大小的部分（0.056微米至18微米的空气动力学直径），两个超级基金网站的顺风-污染的尾矿在海登-温克尔曼和铁王，亚利桑那州。分离的馏分将产生有毒金属和准金属（As，Pb，Cr，Cd，Sb）的粒度分级质量浓度数据，以及其他物理化学特性。扫描迁移率粒度仪（SMPS）将使我们能够计算超细颗粒的数量，这些颗粒被认为与不良健康影响最密切相关。使用这些工具，将实现以下目标： 1)评估大气粉尘在采矿作业金属污染物迁移中的作用 2)确定污染源以评估补救办法 3)与项目9合作，评估植被对减少粉尘排放作用 4)将结果纳入亚利桑那大学-沙尘区域大气模式，用于预测沙尘排放和人类接触 这些研究将与第9区EPA和亚利桑那州环境质量部合作进行。这些研究的结果将是这些机构用于顺风暴露人群风险评估的重要补充信息。

Atmospheric dust originating from mine tailings and other mining operations is a potentially important human exposure route for arsenic, lead and other toxic elements in the arid Southwest, and will become increasingly important here and elsewhere with predicted regional climate change and population growth. Dust particles emitted from mining operations mobilize trace metals which can then accumulate in soils, natural waters, and vegetation. Human exposure to the dust can occur through inhalation and, especially in the case of children, incidental dust ingestion. This project will use Micro-Orifice Uniform Deposit Impactor samplers to collect atmospheric aerosols in ten size fractions (0.056 microM to 18 microM aerodynamic diameter), downwind of two Superfund sites - contaminated mine tailings at Hayden-Winkleman and Iron King, AZ. The separate fractions will yield size-fractionated mass concentration data for toxic metals and metalloids (As, Pb, Cr, Cd, Sb), as well as other physicochemical characteristics. A scanning mobility particle sizer (SMPS) will allow us to count the number of ultrafine particles, which are thought to be most closely linked to adverse health effects. Using these tools, the following Aims will be addressed: 1) assess the role of atmospheric dust in the transport of metals contaminants from mine operations 2) identify contaminant source to assess remediation approaches 3) in collaboration with Project 9 assess role of vegetation cover to reduce dust emission 4) incorporate results into University of Arizona - Dust Regional Atmosphere Model for prediction of dust emissions and human exposures These studies will be performed in collaboration with Region 9 EPA and the State of Arizona Department of Environmental Quality. The results of these studies will be critical additions to the information that these agencies utilize for risk assessment of down-wind exposed populations.