Ion beam analysis of urban aerosol micro and nanoparticles compared with environmentally related children diseases in two Polish towns

Urban aerosol particles were collected in two Polish towns-Legnica and Starachowice, and characterised with mass spectrometry methods. Bulk analysis of particulate matter collected on quartz fibre filters was performed using spark source mass spectrometry (SSMS). Analysis of chosen elements revealed the differences in total concentrations in the towns. We found in Legnica more: Sr-5 times with respect to Starachowice, Se, As-3 times, Cl, V, Y, Mo-2 times, Cr, Fe, Ni, Cu, Rb i Pb-less than 2 times. In Starachowice we found more: Ti-40 times, Zn-5 times, Mn-2 times, Br, Co i Zr-less than 2 times. Another technique-secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS) allowed us to perform depth profile analysis of collected particles on aluminium plates of cascade impactor. The SIMS results showed "coreshell" structure of particles dependent on their grain. size in the range of 300 mn to 15 mu m. The shell layer was enriched in Cr, Cu and Pb. The results were compared with the medical study of the prevalence of environmentally related children diseases observed in these two cities. Questionnaire studies and allergic skin prick tests were performed according to the protocol of International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC). An epidemiological study performed on Legnica and Starachowice children shows statistically similar results besides the compositional and morphological differences of particles suspended in the air of the two towns.. (c) 2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.