Study identifies heavy metals in high concentrations of potentially harmful airborne nanoparticles around Trudeau airport.

Date added: 15 January, 2019

A recent study by scientists at Montreal’s McGill university has found unusually high concentrations of potentially harmful airborne aerosols containing nanoparticles around Montreal’s Trudeau airport. Some contained chromium and arsenic. The study, published in December 2018 in the prestigious journal “Environmental Pollution” found these observations were statistically higher than corresponding measurements in downtown Montreal and at major highways during rush hour. The airport is thus a hotspot for nanoparticles containing “emerging contaminants” (substances produced by human activities that have, or are suspected to have, adverse ecological and/or human health effects.) The study found trends in levels of nanoparticles during the day showed concentrations that exhibited peaks during times with many flights, also showing correlations with pollutants (CO, NO_x, and O₃) – confirming the anthropogenic source of the aerosols. The nanoparticles, especially containing heavy metals, are potentially a matter of public health. The study detected up to 2 million particles per cubic centimetre of air, which is more than the amount found so far at other airports. More studies need to be carried out, as health is at stake.
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SERIOUS AIR POLLUTION AT TRUDEAU AIRPORT

15.1.2019

A recent McGill study found unusually high concentrations of potentially harmful airborne nanoparticles around the airport. It is interesting to note that citizens on the streets ask for more studies on the subject.

‘There is some hope that people become more aware of the dangers of aircraft emissions,’ says Pierre Lachapelle from Les Pollués de Montréal-Trudeau, affiliated with UECNA, in the interview below. At the link below:

https://www.uecna.eu/serious-air-pollution-at-trudeau-airport/

It is a matter of public health. The new study found a high concentration of particles around the airport. Some contain heavy metals, like Chromium and Arsenic. The study published in December in the journal Environmental Pollution detected up to 2 million particles per cubic centimetre. This is more than the amount found so far in any measurement at any other airport. People near the airport report black spots on garden furniture, probably from the airport. It is better to get as many studies as possible on this, for health. Residents agree more studies should be done.

Most of the airborne particles are considered benign, but some nanoparticles include heavy metals that could be hazardous to your health.

Although Dr. Parisa Ariya, who conducted the study, said these particles won’t kill you, the fact that there is a high concentration of certain nanoparticles means that more research will need to be done.

Since Dr. Ariya’s study was only a physical and chemical one, she said it will require public health research.

“It definitely reccommends a concentrated, integrated study,” Ariya said.

President of citizen’s group ‘Les Pollués de Montréal-Trudeau,’ Pierre Lachapelle said he agrees that more needs to be done in terms of public health.

“Now I think it’s time to see what is the public health concern,” he said.

Concerns have already been raised, as Lachapelle’s neighbors have dealth with airborne pollution from jets leaving the airport left on their laundry.

“There are black spots on their laundry at the end of the day,” Lachapelle said.

He said he’s unsure of what that is, and Ariya said there are still many ‘unknowns’ out there.

But for Ariya, what is known for certain is that it has to be looked at a little closer before jumping to any conclusions.

“We have to do the research studies, with the collaborator from health sciences as well, then we would be able to see if the concern is valid,” Ariya said.

http://www.iheartradio.ca/cjad/news/air-pollution-at-trudeau-airport-raises-health-concerns-calls-for-more-research-1.8641702

Physicochemical studies of aerosols at Montreal Trudeau Airport: The importance of airborne nanoparticles containing metal contaminants☆

Highlights

•: Airborne particles at the Montreal International Airport were studied systematically.
•: Total number density of aerosols reached a maximum of 2 × 10⁶ cm⁻³.
•: Correlations with pollutants (CO, NO_x, and O₃) confirm anthropogenic source of aerosols.
•: Presence of metal/metal oxide emerging nanoparticles was detected.
•: Airport pollutants can reach neighbouring populated areas, causing health concerns.

Abstract

Airborne particles, specifically nanoparticles, are identified health hazards and a key research domain in air pollution and climate change. We performed a systematic airport study to characterize real-time size and number density distribution, chemical composition and morphology of the aerosols (∼10 nm–10 μm) using complementary cutting-edge and novel techniques, namely optical aerosol analyzers, triple quad ICP-MS/MS and high-resolution STEM imaging. The total number density of aerosols, predominantly composed of nanoparticles, reached a maximum of 2 × 10⁶ cm⁻³ and is higher than reported values from any other international airport. We also provide evidence for a wide range of metal in aerosols, and emerging metals in nanoparticles (e.g., Zn and Ni). The geometric mean, median and 99th and 1st percentile values of observed nanoparticle number densities at the apron were 1.0 × 10⁵, 9.0 × 10⁴, 1.2 × 10⁶ and 9.3 × 10³ cm⁻³, respectively. These observations were statistically higher than corresponding measurements in downtown Montreal and at major highways during rush hour. This airport is thus a hotspot for nanoparticles containing emerging contaminants. The diurnal trends in concentrations exhibit peaks during flight and rush hours, showing correlations with pollutants such as CO. The HR-TEM-EDS provided evidence for nano-sized particles produced in combustion engines. Implications of our results for air pollution and health are discussed.

Graphical abstract

This paper has been recommended for acceptance by Prof. Wen-Xiong Wang.

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0269749118335449