Airborne particles can have a significant impact on a person’s health, with seasonal allergies being one of the most common. While pollen counts are widely available and closely monitored, limited information exists about the concentrations of cancer-causing trace elements like lead and arsenic in urban areas of developing countries. A recent study led by Randall Martin, a professor at Washington University in St. Louis, analyzed global ambient particulate matter to understand mineral dust and trace element oxides.
The study found that trace elements like lead and arsenic are known to have negative health effects and primarily come from human activities like fossil fuel combustion. Dust sources can be natural or human-made, such as construction activities. Martin’s research team studied data from the Surface Particulate Matter Network (SPARTAN), the only global monitoring network that measures PM elemental composition. The results showed that regions in Bangladesh, India, and Vietnam are areas of concern that could benefit from interventions to reduce emissions from human activities.
For more detailed information about this study, please visit the McKelvey School of Engineering website.
