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Journal of the Geological Society

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Geochemical and size variations in inhalable UK airborne particles: the limitations of mass measurements

^{1 1}Instituto de Ciencias de la Tierra Jaume Almera (CSIC), C/ Lluís Solé i Sabarís s/n, Barcelona 08028, Spain (e-mail: tmoreno@ija.csic.es)
^{2 2}School of Earth, Ocean and Planetary Sciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff CF10 3YE, UK
^{3 3}School of Biosciences, Cardiff University, Museum Avenue, Cardiff CF10 3US, UK *W.G. has now left Cardiff and can be contacted via T.M. at CSIC, Barcelona

Current European Union legislation limits acceptable levels of inhalable particulate matter <10 µm based only on measurements of mass (currently 50 µg m³ of PM₁₀ per day), without considering particle shape, size or chemistry. However, SEM and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry data on airborne particle samples from five UK sites (Port Talbot, London, Sheffield, Birmingham and the Lizard, Cornwall) show huge variations in PM_2.5/PM₁₀ ratios and particle chemistry, irrespective of mass. Local geology, as well illustrated by the abundance of silicate particles of ophiolitic derivation from the Lizard, can be an important factor in particle variation. Thus a consideration of mass alone provides inadequate information about an airborne dust sample and any potential health effects linked to that sample.

KEYWORDS: UK, legislation, particulate materials, silicates, public health