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的西南部地区人类接触砷、铅和其他有毒元素的潜在重要途径，随着预计的区域气候变化和人口增长，这种粉尘在这里和其他地方将变得越来越重要。采矿作业排放的粉尘颗粒会动员痕量金属，然后在土壤、自然水域和植被中积累。人类接触粉尘可通过吸入，特别是在儿童情况下，偶然摄入粉尘。该项目将使用微孔均匀沉积撞击器采样器采集10种粒度(0.056微米至18微米空气动力学直径)的大气气溶胶，并在两个超级基金地点的顺风向收集空气中的气溶胶--位于亚利桑那州海登-温克尔曼和铁王的受污染的尾矿。分离的馏分将产生有毒金属和类金属(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征。扫描流动颗粒测定仪(SMPS)将使我们能够计算被认为与不良健康影响最密切相关的超细颗粒的数量。利用这些工具，将实现以下目标： 1)评估大气粉尘在矿山作业金属污染物运输中的作用 2)确定污染源以评估补救方法 3)与项目9合作，评估植被覆盖在减少粉尘排放方面的作用 4)将结果纳入亚利桑那大学-尘埃区域大气模式，以预测粉尘排放和人体暴露 这些研究将与第9区环境保护局和亚利桑那州环境质量部合作进行。这些研究的结果将是对这些机构用于顺风暴露人群风险评估的信息的重要补充。

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.