# Comprehensive Evaluation of PM (Deposition/TSP) Pollution from Multiple Quarrying Activities

## TL;DR

This study evaluates pollution from quarrying activities by analyzing particulate matter and its environmental impact.

## Contribution

The paper introduces a novel procedure to analyze OM-ash fractions and inorganic/organic species in PM samples.

## Key findings

- Quarrying activities contribute to PM pollution with increased bioavailability and EI in organic eluates.
- MQA activities lead to higher TSP and TD compared to background areas.
- Semirural areas influenced by quarrying show the highest chemical composition and acute EI.

## Abstract

This study, for the
first time, analyzed organic matter
(OM)-ash
fractions, inorganic/organic species, chemical structures, and inhibition
effects (EI) in the same sample using a novel procedure. This allowed
for an evaluation of the actual contributions of these species to
particulate matter (PM) and environmental impacts. Results showed
that the mobilities of Al, Co, and potentially toxic elements (PTEs)
(As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Pb, and Ni) varied between organic and inorganic
phases depending on pH and organic groups. The transition of these
elements into the organic phase, along with Ca, contributed to silica
polymerization, increased EI in the organic eluate, and enhanced bioavailability
in the presence of low water-soluble OM (WOM). Therefore, although
Ca abundance reduced EI in the organic eluate, the organic eluate
of multiple quarrying areas (MQA), with the lowest OM, exhibited an
EI equivalent to the background area (BA). Although ΣPTEs in
total suspended particulates (TSP) inorganic eluates decreased compared
to total deposition (TD), EI increased. Due to TD-facilitated accumulation-transition
and metabolite formation, leading to higher EI in organic eluates.
This finding aligned with similar effects observed in aged atmospheric
aerosols from the same region. MQA activities significantly contributed
to inert dust pollution, Ca, Cu, Cr, 40K, and Na accumulation,
silica and alkali oxide abundance, SOA precursor (e.g., phthalic acid)
transformation into more hazardous phthalate esters (PAEs), and new
metabolite formation affecting climate change. These activities increased
yearly TD and estimated mean TSP by 42 and 41 times, respectively,
to 52.9 g/m2-year and 1.3 mg/m3 compared to
BA. Despite MQA having the highest TSP-TD, semirural (SRRA) PM influenced
by MQA exhibited the highest chemical composition and acute EI. Furthermore,
it was found that, aside from Na and Se, there were no significantly
enriched elements in MQA when compared to BA.