Volatile metal and metalloid species (Pb, Hg, Se) in a European urban atmosphere (Bordeaux, France)

Christophe Pécheyran (1, 2) , B. Lalere , Olivier François Xavier Donard (2)

1 LCABIE - Laboratoire de Chimie Analytique Bio-Inorganique et Environnement
2 IPREM - Institut des sciences analytiques et de physico-chimie pour l'environnement et les materiaux

Ambient air measurements of volatile metal and metalloid compounds were conducted in a European urban environment (Bordeaux, France). Air samples were collected with a cryogenic trap and analyzed by low-temperature gas chromatography with ICP/MS detection. Indoor and outdoor sites were studied. Tetraalkyllead compounds (Me(4-n)Et(n)Pb, n = 0-4) and elemental mercury were found to be the major volatile metal species. Average concentrations of 15.5 and 2.7 ng/m3 as metal have been reported respectively for total alkyllead species and elemental mercury in open area. These results illustrate the general phasing out of atmospheric lead initiated in the past decade. Accumulation of dimethyl selenide has been recorded in a building probably originating from human breath. Volatile metal species distribution in the different sites is discussed with regards to meteorological conditions and automotive traffic parameters. Occurrence of unknown volatile metal and metalloid species likely to occur in urban environment is also reported and discussed.

Domaines: Chimie analytique

Christophe Pécheyran, B. Lalere, Olivier François Xavier Donard. Volatile metal and metalloid species (Pb, Hg, Se) in a European urban atmosphere (Bordeaux, France). Environmental Science and Technology, 2000, 34 (1), pp.27-32. ⟨10.1021/es980887n⟩. ⟨hal-01590089⟩