The New Jersey Institute of Technology's
Electronic Theses & Dissertations Project

Title:	Trends in metal (Pb, Zn, Ni, As and Se) concentrations in the New Jersey air environment
Author:	Ejiofor, Geoffrey Ike
View Online:	njit-etd1986-028 ([ii], 87 pages ~ 2.0 MB pdf)
Department:	Department of Chemical Engineering, Chemistry and Environmental Science
Degree:	Master of Science
Program:	Engineering Science
Document Type:	Thesis
Advisory Committee:	Bozzelli, Joseph W. (Committee chair) Kebbekus, Barbara B. (Committee member) Kimmel, Howard S. (Committee member)
Date:	1986-10
Keywords:	Air -- Pollution -- New Jersey Heavy metals -- New Jersey
Availability:	Unrestricted
Abstract:	The trend and atmospheric concentrations of five trace elements (Pb, Zn, Ni, As and Se) were studied at Newark (urban site) and Ringwood (rural site), New Jersey, during January - September 1985, whilst the Hackensack Meadowlands, New Jersey were monitored during October 1985-March 1986. The analytical procedure involved collection of the airborne particulates on a glass fiber filter using a non-dichotomous high volume sampler. The samples were digested and analyzed using the atomic absorption spectrophotometer. It was ascertained that Newark and Meadowlands exhibited higher average concentrations of Zinc and Lead than Ringwood. It was concluded all the metals originated mostly from regional pollutant transport at the Ringwood site , while Lead and to a lesser extent Zinc, Nickel, Arsenic and Selenium arose mainly from local vehicular and industrial sources at the Newark site. In the Meadowlands, Lead and Zinc were assumed to be from local sources around the area; such as nearby highway with heavy traffic, plus the active landfills. Ni, As and Se were assumed to be from regional transport due to wind direction effect at the site. The decreased level of lead can be attributed to mandatory use lead free gasoline in late model cars.