**6. Metals content in suspended and settled particulate matter**

The presence of selected metals in particulate matter samples was detected by atomic absorption spectrometry (SpectrAA-30, Varian, Austrália). Fe, Zn, and Cu were detected by a standard process in acetylene – air flame, Cd, Cr, Ni, Pb and Co were detected in graphite cell in the GTA 96 add-on equipment. Arsenic content was detected by hydride method in the VGA 76 add-on equipment.

Metals content was investigated in both settled and suspended particulate matter samples. Because of low quantity in the suspended particles samples, the metals concentrations were detected for TSP and PM10 filters all at once.

The results of AAS analysis of selected metals content in settled and suspended aerosols for each monitored room are presented as metal concentrations in Tables 7 and 8. The average concentrations of metals measured in insufficient amount for individual concentration detection for each room are presented for arsenic, cadmium, chromium, nickel and lead.


**Table 7.** Surface metal concentrations in settled particulate matter [μg.cm-2]


Investigation of Suspended and Settled Particulate Matter in Indoor Air 473

Settled PM Suspended PM

The higher percentage of metals content was detected in suspended particulate matter in comparison to the settled particles. This finding may result from the fact that most of metals are cumulated in the finest fraction of aerosols [40] represented by suspended PM10 in this study. As reported in [41] Na, Al, Ca, Fe, Mg, Mn and Ti were found in coarse particles, while K, V, Cr, Ni, Cu, Zn, Cd, Sn, Pb, As and Se occured more in fine particles. In reference [44] there is noted that elements mostly concentrated in coarse mode including Al, Mg, Ca, Sc, Ti, Fe, Sr, Zr and Ba; elements mostly concentrated in accumulation mode including S, As, Se, Ag, Cd, Tl and Pb; and the elements having muti-mode distribution including Be,

The measured values of metals content in suspended particulate matter were 4.9 – 15.3 times higher for all metals except for iron and zinc. The comparison of the percentage content of arsenic, cadmium, chromium, nickel and lead in settled and suspended indoor particulate

**Figure 13.** The percentage content of metals in settled and suspended particulate matter

arsenic cadmium chromium nickel lead

suspended particulate matter for each monitored room, respectively.

The measured mass of metals contents in the samples of settled as well as suspended particulate were compared to the total mass of monitored particulate matter for each monitored room. Figures 14 and 15 represent the percentage content of metals in settled and

Na, K, Cr, Mn, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Ga, Mo, Sn and Sb.

matter is presented in Figure 13.

0

0.05

0.1

0.15

0.2

0.25

percentage content of metals [%]

0.3

0.35

0.4

0.45

0.5

472 Atmospheric Aerosols – Regional Characteristics – Chemistry and Physics

**Table 8.** Mass metal concentrations in suspended particulate matter [μg.m-3]

The surface metal concentrations of settled particulate matter were detected in the range from 0.03 (cadmium) to 4.73 μg.cm-2 (iron). The high concentrations were measured also in case of calcium and zinc. The highest concentrations were measured in case of iron, calcium and zinc. There were no significant differences of metal surface concentrations found out in all measured rooms. The metal concentration of the other investigated metals (Cr, Ni, Pb, Cd, As) in settled particulate matter were close to the detection limit (Table 7). The significant high concentrations of cadmium, chromium, arsenic and lead as tobacco smoke emissions were not confirmed in settled particulate matter.

The mass metal concentrations in suspended particulate matter range from 0.07 (cadmium) to 2.47 μg.m-3 (calcium). Similarly to settling PM metal concentrations, no significant differences were measured for the monitored rooms.

The percentage of studied metals content was calculated in settled as well as suspended particulate matter as the ratio of measured metal concentration to the particulate matter concentration (Table 9).


**Table 9.** The metals percentage content in settled and suspended particulate matter

The higher percentage of metals content was detected in suspended particulate matter in comparison to the settled particles. This finding may result from the fact that most of metals are cumulated in the finest fraction of aerosols [40] represented by suspended PM10 in this study. As reported in [41] Na, Al, Ca, Fe, Mg, Mn and Ti were found in coarse particles, while K, V, Cr, Ni, Cu, Zn, Cd, Sn, Pb, As and Se occured more in fine particles. In reference [44] there is noted that elements mostly concentrated in coarse mode including Al, Mg, Ca, Sc, Ti, Fe, Sr, Zr and Ba; elements mostly concentrated in accumulation mode including S, As, Se, Ag, Cd, Tl and Pb; and the elements having muti-mode distribution including Be, Na, K, Cr, Mn, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Ga, Mo, Sn and Sb.

472 Atmospheric Aerosols – Regional Characteristics – Chemistry and Physics

Arsenic 0.28 Cadmium 0.07 Chromium 0.10 Nickel 0.14 Lead 0.24

The surface metal concentrations of settled particulate matter were detected in the range from 0.03 (cadmium) to 4.73 μg.cm-2 (iron). The high concentrations were measured also in case of calcium and zinc. The highest concentrations were measured in case of iron, calcium and zinc. There were no significant differences of metal surface concentrations found out in all measured rooms. The metal concentration of the other investigated metals (Cr, Ni, Pb, Cd, As) in settled particulate matter were close to the detection limit (Table 7). The significant high concentrations of cadmium, chromium, arsenic and lead as tobacco smoke

The mass metal concentrations in suspended particulate matter range from 0.07 (cadmium) to 2.47 μg.m-3 (calcium). Similarly to settling PM metal concentrations, no significant

The percentage of studied metals content was calculated in settled as well as suspended particulate matter as the ratio of measured metal concentration to the particulate matter

Arsenic 0.03 0.46 15.3 Cadmium 0.01 0.11 11.0 Chromium 0.01 0.17 17.0 Nickel 0.02 0.23 11.5 Lead 0.03 0.40 13.3 Calcium 0.43 3.25 7.6 Copper 0.02 0.26 13.0 Iron 0.88 0.33 0.4 Magnesium 0.14 0.68 4.9 Zinc 1.50 0.34 0.2

**Table 9.** The metals percentage content in settled and suspended particulate matter

Metal Settled PM [%] Suspended PM [%] Suspended/ settled metals

**Table 8.** Mass metal concentrations in suspended particulate matter [μg.m-3]

emissions were not confirmed in settled particulate matter.

differences were measured for the monitored rooms.

concentration (Table 9).

Metal Kitchen Living room Working room Calcium 2.16 2.47 1.56 Copper 0.18 0.10 0.16 Iron 0.14 0.51 1.71 Magnesium 0.41 0.51 0.37 Zinc 0.20 0.21 0.20

Average concentration

The measured values of metals content in suspended particulate matter were 4.9 – 15.3 times higher for all metals except for iron and zinc. The comparison of the percentage content of arsenic, cadmium, chromium, nickel and lead in settled and suspended indoor particulate matter is presented in Figure 13.

**Figure 13.** The percentage content of metals in settled and suspended particulate matter

The measured mass of metals contents in the samples of settled as well as suspended particulate were compared to the total mass of monitored particulate matter for each monitored room. Figures 14 and 15 represent the percentage content of metals in settled and suspended particulate matter for each monitored room, respectively.

Investigation of Suspended and Settled Particulate Matter in Indoor Air 475

kitchen living room working room

**Figure 15.** The percentage content of metals in suspended particulate matter for monitored rooms

calcium copper iron magnesium zinc

0

0.5

1

1.5

2

2.5

prcentage of metal content [%]

3

3.5

4

The obtained mass concentrations of metals in indoor particle samples correspond with those in the typical urban aerosol [42,43]. The average indoor concentrations of total

0

0.5

1

1.5

2

2.5

percentage of metal content [%]

3

3.5

4

4.5

**Figure 14.** The percentage content of metals in settled particulate matter for monitored rooms

calcium copper iron magnesium zinc

kitchen living room working room

**Figure 15.** The percentage content of metals in suspended particulate matter for monitored rooms

The obtained mass concentrations of metals in indoor particle samples correspond with those in the typical urban aerosol [42,43]. The average indoor concentrations of total elements were lower than or comparable to those measured outdoors, suggesting that indoor elements originated mainly from outdoor emission sources. On the contrary, the authors in [24] reported the metal elements concentrations analyzed were 3-15 times higher relative to soil background values in China.

Investigation of Suspended and Settled Particulate Matter in Indoor Air 477

This research has been carried out in terms of the project NFP 26220120037 and NFP 26220120018 supported from the European Union Structural funds. The authors would like to thank following people for their help and suggestions: assoc. prof. Dr. Magdalena Balintova, Ing. Lenka Kubincova, PhD. and Dr. Gabriel Janak from Technical University of

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Anthropogenic sources include fossil fuel combustion, industrial metallurgical processes, vehicle emission and waste incinerations. Natural sources include a variety of processes acting on crustal minerals, such as volcanism, erosion and surface winds, as well as from forest fires and the oceans. Some elements are potentially toxic trace metals, such as Pb, Cd, V, Fe, Zn, Cr, Ni, Mn and Cu.
