Detection of air pollution with copper and chromium in some crowded areas in Baghdad
Article Sidebar
Main Article Content
Abstract
Air pollution by heavy metals poses significant environmental and public health concerns in rapidly urbanizing cities due to their persistence, toxicity, and bioaccumulation potential. This study examined the seasonal variation of airborne copper (Cu) and chromium (Cr) in two high-traffic areas of Baghdad (Al-Bayaa and Al-Shurta Tunnel) and a lower-traffic control site. Particulate matter was collected seasonally using a low-volume air sampler equipped with glass microfiber filters, digested with nitric and hydrofluoric acids, and analyzed via flame atomic absorption spectrometry (FAAS). Statistical analyses assessed spatial and seasonal differences.
Results revealed pronounced seasonal variability, with significantly higher Cu and Cr concentrations during spring and summer (p < 0.05), particularly at traffic-dominated sites. Maximum Cu concentrations reached 35 µg/m³ in Al-Bayaa and 31 µg/m³ in Al-Shurta Tunnel, while Cr peaked at 3.0 and 2.8 µg/m³, respectively. In several instances, measured levels exceeded World Health Organization (WHO) guideline values, indicating potential health risks. Elevated concentrations were primarily attributed to intense traffic activity, vehicle wear processes such as brake and tire abrasion, and meteorological factors including higher temperatures and lower wind speeds.
A preliminary non-carcinogenic human health risk assessment, based on hazard quotients and hazard indices, suggested potential exposure concerns. Despite limitations related to spatial coverage and lack of metal speciation, the study provides valuable baseline data. The findings underscore the need for continuous air quality monitoring, effective emission control strategies, and urban planning policies to mitigate heavy metal pollution in densely populated areas of Baghdad and similar urban environments.
Article Details
Section
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
Licensed under a CC-BY license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/
How to Cite
References
WHO (World Health Organization). (2023). Air pollution and heavy metals: Health risks and policy recommendations.
APHA. (2022). Standard Methods for the Examination of Water and Wastewater (23rd ed.). American Public Health Association.
FAO/IAEA. (2019). Atomic Absorption Spectrometry: Practical Guide for Environmental Samples.
ATSDR (Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry). (2012). Toxicological profile for chromium. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
Guertin, J. (2004). Toxicity and health risks of chromium (VI) in the environment. In Chromium(VI) Handbook (pp. 215–234). CRC Press.
Kotaś, J., & Stasicka, Z. (2000). Chromium occurrence in the environment and methods of its speciation. Environmental Pollution, 107(3), 263–283.
Nriagu, J. O. (1988). Production and uses of chromium. In Chromium in the Natural and Human Environments (pp. 81–102). Wiley-Interscience.
Djingova, R., & Kuleff, I. (2000). Instrumental techniques for trace analysis. Environmental Monitoring and Assessment, 60(1), 1–14.
Shahid, M., Dumat, C., Khalid, S., Schreck, E., Xiong, T., & Niazi, N. K. (2017). Ecotoxicological and interactive effects of copper and chromium on plants: A review. Environmental Science and Pollution Research, 24(12), 11835–11850.
Costa, M., & Klein, C. B. (2022). Toxicity and carcinogenicity of chromium. Chemical Research in Toxicology, 35(1), 58–75.
Al Ansari, N., et al. (2023). Air quality trends in Baghdad: Heavy metals and particulate characterization. Journal of Environmental Monitoring, 15(4), 212–230.
Al Hadhrami, Z., et al. (2017). Seasonal patterns of ambient heavy metals in Gulf megacities. Environmental Science & Pollution Research, 24(2), 189–202.
El Sayed, R. A., et al. (2020). Heavy metals in urban air of Cairo: Seasonal variations. Atmospheric Environment, 225, 117328.
Forster, P., et al. (2020). Urban pollution and human health: An integrative review. Environmental Health Perspectives, 128(7), 76003.
Grigoratos, T., & Martini, G. (2015). Brake wear particle emissions: A review. Environmental Science and Pollution Research, 22(4), 2491–2504.
Harrison, R. M., et al. (2019). Influence of traffic emissions on urban air quality. Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics, 19, 10123–10138.
Karagulian, F., et al. (2015). Heavy metals in urban air: Source apportionment. Environmental Research, 142, 123–135.
Kouvarakis, G., et al. (2021). Airborne metals in Tehran: Seasonal characteristics. Science of The Total Environment, 756, 143845.
Pant, P., & Harrison, R. M. (2013). Review of traffic related particulate matter emissions. Atmospheric Environment, 77, 78–97.
Querol, X., et al. (2018). Heavy metal distribution in urban air: Mediterranean cities. Environmental Pollution, 233, 967–978.
Querol, X., et al. (2022). Urban air metals and health impacts. Air Quality, Atmosphere & Health, 15, 987–1005.
Sánchez de la Campa, A. M., et al. (2018). Monitoring airborne metals in urban traffic areas. Journal of Hazardous Materials, 357, 182–193.
UNEP. (2022). Global Assessment of Air Quality and Health.
USEPA. (2021). Compendium of Methods for the Determination of Inorganic Compounds in Ambient Air.
Viana, M., et al. (2024). Multicity analysis of urban heavy metals. Science of The Total Environment, 873, 162158.
Zamora Medina, J., et al. (2021). Traffic emissions and seasonal variations in heavy metals. Environmental Monitoring and Assessment, 193, 417.
EPA. (1999). Compendium of methods for the determination of inorganic compounds in ambient air. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.