Chemical analyses and geographical origins of residential attic dust in central South Africa

Simple item page
dc.contributor.authorvan der Westhuizen, Deidré
dc.contributor.authorWelman-Purchase, Megan
dc.contributor.authorWichmann, Janine
dc.contributor.authorvon Eschwege, Karel G.
dc.date.accessioned2025-04-16T06:55:03Z
dc.date.available2025-04-16T06:55:03Z
dc.date.issued2025
dc.description.abstractParticulate matter (PM) is a widely used air pollution proxy indicator. Substantial supporting evidence links exposure to PM with adverse health effects. This study compares long-term accumulated particulate matter's chemical and morphological properties and possible sources from various locations in Bloemfontein, Kimberley, and the Vanderbijlpark residential areas. As the first study of this kind in South Africa, dust samples were collected from the attics of houses built over fifty years ago. Potential area PM sources located far away were identified by analyzing every tenth year from 1972 to 2022, representing five decades of backward Long-Range Transport (LRT) clusters, for air masses that passed the sampling sites. Several PM sources were determined by combining LRT geographic origin studies and chemical analyses of collected samples. Elemental compositions of samples were determined by the use of scanning electron microscopy, and electron dispersive spectroscopy. Mineral content was determined by X-ray fluorescence, X-ray diffraction, and electron probe microscopy techniques, revealing airborne sources that moved significantly due to climate change, over the 5-decade period. Potential area PM sources located far away included various South African provinces, neighboring states to the north, and the Atlantic and Indian Oceans west and east of South Africa. Elemental composition included: Al, Ag, C, Ca, Cl, Cu, Fe, K, Mg, Mn, Na, O, S, Si, Ti, and Zn. Mineral composition included SiO₂, TiO₂, Al₂O₃, Fe₂O₃, MnO, MgO, CaO, Na₂O, K₂O, P₂O₅, SO₃, Cr₂O₃ and NiO. The most prominent minerals found were quarts and plagioclase. While considering relevant mining activities, combining methods allowed a successful study of change in source distribution associated with climate change.
dc.description.versionPublisher's version
dc.identifier.citationvan der Westhuizen, D., Welman-Purchase, M., Wichmann, J., & von Eschwege, K. G. (2025). Chemical analyses and geographical origins of residential attic dust in central South Africa. Discover Environment, 3(1), 46. https://doi.org/10.1007/s44274-025-00241-7
dc.identifier.issn2731-9431 (online)
dc.identifier.urihttps://doi.org/10.1007/s44274-025-00241-7
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/11660/13011
dc.language.isoen
dc.publisherSpringer
dc.publisherDiscover
dc.rights.holderAuthor(s)
dc.rights.licensehttps://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
dc.subjectAir pollution
dc.subjectDust particles
dc.subjectTrace elements
dc.subjectMinerals
dc.titleChemical analyses and geographical origins of residential attic dust in central South Africa
dc.typeAnimation
Files
Original bundle
Now showing 1 - 1 of 1
Thumbnail Image
Name:
van der Westhuizen_Chemical analyses and geographical origins_2025.pdf
Size:
10.8 MB
Format:
Adobe Portable Document Format
Download
License bundle
Now showing 1 - 1 of 1
No Thumbnail Available
Name:
license.txt
Size:
1.63 KB
Format:
Item-specific license agreed upon to submission
Description:
Download
Collections
Research Articles (Chemistry)