Sources of metal pollution in the urban atmosphere (A case study: Tuzla, Istanbul)

In this study, İstanbul-Tuzla Region atmosphere was selected as the working area for atmospheric pollution. Although the study area seems too local, this region contains shipyards and shipyard-related side product industries. It is also surrounded by aluminum (ASSAN) and copper (SARKUYSAN) facilities and tannery organized industrial district. For determined the atmospheric inputs, the sample collection was carried out as monthly in 2010. Particulate matter was filtered from aerosols via a high volume air sampler. The collected 46 ambient air samples were analyzed for Cr, Fe, Cu, Zn, Cd, Pb and Al using Atomic Absorption Spectrometry (AAS), Flame unit. Additionally, the volume of the air was drawn and meteorological data recorded. Average individual heavy metal concentrations were found as Cd (0.06 ng/m) < Cr (0.09 ng/m) < Zn (0.21 ng/m) < Pb (0.23 ng/m) < Cu (0.48 ng/m). The concentrations of crustal elements Fe and Al were changed between 5.48 ng/m, 74 ng/m and 14 ng/m, 284 ng/m respectively during the sampling period. Except Cr and Fe anthropogenic contribution was seen on the concentrations of Zn, Cu, Pb and Cd in an increasing order. While the crustal element Fe was not show an appreciable change in concentration, but the Al concentration was display an important change in concentration depending on the wind transportation.