The impact of air quality on human health is highly considerable according to the World Health Organization (WHO), therefore the control and reduction of air pollution are contemplated in the sustainability objectives of the 2030 Agenda. Particulate matter can be found among the components of the air from different origin both natural and anthropogenic, which can be transported and remain in airborne or deposited and accumulated as dust on surfaces of different environments affecting humans. The presence of heavy metals (HM) in dust represents a significant exposure pathway for humans. Since HM can be bioaccumulated, not biodegraded and persistent in the environment for a very long time, it is of great interest to assess the potential effects they can produce on human and environmental health if they are present in dust.
The aim of this research focuses on the evaluation of the potential risk of exposure to metallic contaminants present in the dust deposited in different areas of southern Spain with significant influences from anthropic activities and potential sources of dust with HM contents. Elements of interest according to the European Air Quality Directive (Pb, Ni, As, Cd) as well as those that are significant in the dust according to its origin (metallurgy, fossil combustion, road traffic…) will be studied. The methodology includes the sampling and characterisation of the dust particles (size, mineralogy and morphology), as well as the evaluation of the total content of HM, the geochemical bioavailability and the bioaccessibility in humans. Based on the results, environmental quality indices and exposure risk assessment models will be applied, which will allow to define the potential risk to health of the dust sampled in the studying areas.
The student will collaborate in:
1. Sampling of dust in different areas of southern Spain.
2. Fractionation of the samples by particle sizes to obtain the more hazardous particles
3. Characterization of dust samples: mineralogy and morphology by DRX, FRX, DLS, SEM/TEM…
4. Pretreatment of dust sample to different studies (acid digestion, sequential extraction,…)
5. Chemical characterisation of dust samples: organic matter, total metal content and speciation of metals by sequential extraction (geochemical bioavailability)
6. Use of atomic techniques (Flame-AAS (atomic absorption spectroscopy), ICP-OES (inductively coupled plasma coupled to optical emission spectrometry), ICP-MS to metal analysis
7. Validation of the applied analytical methods
8. Study of the metal bioaccessibility by human exposure to dust samples.
9. Classification of dust samples based on environmental quality indices and health risk models and their correlation with possible sources of contamination by metals.
10. Tasks related to the application of statistical and chemometric techniques in chemical analysis.
11. Scientific search and writing.
Sampling design for environmental purposes.
2. Handling of common preparation, digestion, separation and preconcentration methods of samples for heavy metal analysis.
3. Knowledge of physicochemical characterisation of particles.
4. Management of speciation analysis and sequential extraction.
5. Use of certified reference materials (CRMs) for the validation of analytical methods.
6. Knowledge of methodology to evaluate the human bioaccessibility of pollutants.
7. Management of diverse instrumentation, mainly atomic spectroscopy (ICP-OES, ICP-MS, AAS) for metal analysis.
8. Application of data processing tools.
9. Ability to interpret and discuss the results obtained.
Compensation:
Erasmus + grant available depending on eligibility criteria of your home university
Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). Neither the European Union nor EACEA can be held responsible for them.
