Dust, Metals and Metalloids in the Environment: From Air to Hair .

Abstract

Billion tons of particulate matter, made up of inorganic and organic compounds, are released every year into the atmosphere, from both anthropogenic and natural sources. These latters, which include geogenic material from erosion, agriculture, sea spray and volcanic activity account for about 97% of the total mass of particles. The contribution of anthropogenic sources, about 3%, is more pronounced in industrialized and also in urban areas, where vehicular traffic is one of the most important sources. When examining the health impact, in addition to mass level and size, two other main characteristics of particulate matter need to be considered: its nature and chemical composition. These parameters appear intrinsically related one another. Presence, abundance and behavior of trace metals in air are also closely related to atmospheric particulate matter, as most metals in the lower atmosphere are present in association with particles. Most of these aspects are presented and discussed in the present article as only a better knowledge of atmospheric particulate matter, its composition, metal content and some implications on the human health, may aid to select correct actions and appropriate control strategies.