Levels and risk assessment for humans and ecosystems of platinum-group elements in the airborne particles and road dust of some European cities

Bioaccumulation of platinum group elements and characterization of their species in Lolium multiflorum by size-exclusion chromatography coupled with ICP-MS

The bioaccumulation of Pt, Pd and Rh by grass grown hydroponically with nutrient solutions containing these ions at elevated (38.7 mg l(-1) Pt, 21.7 mg l(-1) Pd and 7.1 mg l(-1) Rh) and medium (3.6 mg l(-1) Pt, 4.4 mg l(-1) Pd and 0.5 mg l(-1) Rh) concentrations was studied by using inductively coupled plasma sector field mass spectrometry (ICP-SFMS). The highest bioaccumulation factors were obtained for Pd and Rh in roots and for Pt in leaves. The obtained results showed that most of the studied metals were accumulated in roots, and only a small fraction was really metabolised and transported to leaves. The multi-element capability of ICP-SFMS has been exploited to study the metabolism of platinum group elements (PGEs) in cultivated plants. The species of studied metals were extracted from roots and leaves and separated into two mass fractions by ultra-filtration. The low molecular mass (<10 kDa) fractions of the root and the leaf extracts were investigated by size-exclusion chromatography (SEC) coupled on-line to ICP-SFMS. The presence of Ca, Cu, S and C in the same fractions as Pt, Pd and Rh may indicate the interaction of PGEs with phytochelatins and carbohydrates.

Concentration and distribution of platinum group elements (Pt, Pd, Rh) in airborne particulate matter in Frankfurt am Main, Germany

The concentrations and distribution of platinum group elements (Pt, Pd, Rh) in airborne particulate matter were studied in a period of one year from August 2001 to July 2002 in urban and in nonurban areas. Airborne dust samples were collected as a total amount (particles with an aerodynamic diameter <22 microm) and classified using an eight-stage Andersen impactor (<10 microm) at three locations with different traffic density roads in the Frankfurt am Main and nonurban areas. Sampling at the three locations was performed simultaneously for total airborne dust and fractionated airborne dust. Pd was determined by total reflection X-ray fluorescence after Hg coprecipitation. Pt and Rh were analyzed by adsorptive striping voltammetry after HPA digestion. The results show that the PGE concentrations in airborne samples depend on the traffic density. The highest PGE concentrations in air were found in the vicinity of major roads with heavy traffic, and the lowest ones were found in the nonurban area. The presence of PGE at the sampling station relatively free of traffic in a nonurban area hints to a transport of some of the emitted PGE from the city to this station by wind. At all three sampling locations, a heterogeneous distribution of the Pd, Pt, and Rh concentrations during the sampling year can be observed. The sum of PGE concentrations in total airborne dust is comparable with the sum of impactor samples. However, the concentration of Pt and Rh in total airborne dust (<22 microm) is on average higher than in impactor samples (<10 microm). On the contrary, Pd concentration is higher in impactor samples in most cases. The airborne PGE distribution is dominated by Pt, followed by Pd and Rh. The impactor samples are dominated by Pd, followed by Pt and Rh. This fact indicates that palladium occurs mainly in relatively fine airborne particles. The main fraction of PGE is found on average in particle sizes between 1.1 and 4.7 microm. Knowledge of the size distribution of particles containing PGE is important with respect to risk assessment of human inhalation.

Recent changes in platinum group element concentrations and osmium isotopic composition in sediments from an urban lake

Automobile catalyst emissions have resulted in the occurrence of elevated Pt, Pd, and Rh concentration in the urban and roadside environment. We investigate the chronology of platinum group elements (PGE) accumulation in dated sediments from an urban lake near Boston, MA. Chronological profiles demonstrate that Pt, Pd, and Rh concentrations increased following the introduction in catalysts with accumulation rates 6-16 times larger in 1992-2002 than prior to the introduction of catalysts. Ratios of these elements closely match their ratios in catalysts, providing further evidence of an automobile source. Iridium and Ru accumulation in sediments also increased following the introduction of catalysts, and while past Os contamination is associated with leather tanning, recent changes in the isotopic composition of Os indicate another anthropogenic source for this element. The PGE have similar geochemical properties and are difficult to separate from one another, and therefore, we suggest that automobile catalyst emissions also result in increasing environmental concentrations of Ir, Ru, and Os, which occur as impurities in catalysts. An automobile catalyst source of Ir and Os is supported by elevated concentrations of these elements in a tunnel dust sample.

Platinum group elements in the environment and their health risk

Accumulation of platinum group elements (PGEs) in the environment has been increased over the time. Catalytic converters of modern vehicles are considered to be the main sources of PGE pollution, since the correlation is between the Pt:Rh ratios in various environmental compartments and in converter units. The present literature survey shows that the concentration of these metals has increased significantly in the last decades in diverse environmental matrices; like airborne particulate matter, soil, roadside dust and vegetation, river, coastal and oceanic environment. Generally, PGEs are referred to behave in an inert manner and to be immobile. However, there is an evidence of spread and bioaccumulation of these elements in the environment. Platinum content of road dusts can be soluble, consequently, it enters the waters, sediments, soil and finally, the food chain. The effect of chronic occupational exposure to Pt compounds is well-documented, and certain Pt species are known to exhibit allergenic potential. However, the toxicity of biologically available anthropogenic Pt is not clear. Hence, there is a need to study the effect on human health of long-term chronic exposure to low levels of Pt compounds.

Anthropogenic platinum group element (Pt, Pd and Rh) concentrations in road dusts and roadside soils from Perth, Western Australia

The emission of platinum group elements (PGE) from automobile catalytic converters has led to rapid increases in Pt, Pd and Rh concentrations in roadside media. This article represents the first detailed study to assess PGE levels in road dusts and roadside soils in Australia. Road dust and roadside soil samples were analysed by ICP-MS following microwave digestion and cation exchange. All samples show elevation of PGE above average upper crust values, with maximum values of 420 ng g(-1) Pt, 440 ng g(-1) Pd and 91 ng g(-1) Rh. PGE ratios in road dusts and soils are consistent with known catalytic converter compositions and while Pt and Rh abundances are comparable with European studies, Pd levels are substantially higher in Australian samples. PGE in these samples are not correlated with Pb, though positive correlations with Ce, Cu and Y are evident. No straightforward relationship between traffic volume and PGE abundance is evident and factors such as driving style, topography, road drainage and potentially climate exert considerable influences.

Sediment-based evidence of platinum concentration changes in an urban lake near Boston, Massachusetts

Emission from automobile catalysts has resulted in elevated platinum concentration in the urban and roadside environment. The work presented here investigates the chronological record of platinum in sediments from the Upper Mystic Lake near Boston, MA, and aims at providing a better understanding of the environmental platinum cycle. Sediment cores were collected by freeze-coring and dated using 210Pb activities, laminations, and depth profiles of elements with a well-known history. Platinum concentrations were determined by quadrupole ICP-MS. While platinum concentration remained relatively low and steady from 1870 to 1975 (<5 ng g(-1)), the time of automobile catalyst introduction is followed by a sharp concentration increase, reaching a plateau in 1992 with 29.2 ng g(-1). Platinum deposition likewise remains low with 0.8 microg m(-2) yr(-1) before 1975, increases from 1975 to 1990, and then remains relatively constant throughout the 1990s with a deposition rate of 7.2 microg m(-2) yr(-1). The average size for Pt-containing particles was estimated to be 17 microm, corresponding to the deposition of approximately 14,000 particles m(-2) yr(-1).