Characteristics of WindBlown Dust from Arizona Mining Operations

Characteristics of Wind-Blown Dust from Arizona Mining Operations Presented by Paul Rheinheimer A. E. Sáez, E. A. Betterton, J. Csavina, A. Wonaschutz, W. Conant, B. Barbaris, A. Landázuri, K. Rine, A. Campillo Research Supported by NIEHS Superfund Research Program NASA Space Grant Symposium, 2010

SITES IN FOCUS Iron King – � Inactive mine � Inactive smelter Hayden – � Active mine � Smelter

PARTICLE SIZES AND RESPIRATORY EFFECTS Three particle sizes: � Coarse Mechanically generated � Accumulation � Fine Smelting operations

EQUIPMENT Total Suspended Particles Sampler � 24 hour sampling time � Measures PM 10 MOUDI – Micro-Orifice Uniform-Deposit Impactor � Multiple day sampling time � Measures particles over a range of particle sizes (18 μm to 0. 054 μm)

PARTICLE MEASUREMENT EQUIPMENT Ion Chromatography �Measures concentrations of water soluble ions �Cations: Na+, NH 3+, K+, Mg 2+, Ca 2+ �Anions: Acetate, Formate, Cl-, NO 3 -, SO 42 Inductively Coupled Plasma – Mass Spectrometry �Measures metal and metalloid concentrations �Focus on Arsenic (As), Cadmium (Cd), and Lead (Pb)

Average concentration over the months of December, January, & February of 2009 As 4, 0 Cd Pb 14 12 3, 5 3, 0 AZ HAPS: (Chronic) guidance levels for Arsenic 2, 5 2, 0 10 8 6 1, 5 4 1, 0 0, 5 2 0, 0 0 18 AF 0. 054 0. 18 0. 32 0. 55 1. 0 1. 8 3. 1 Cutpoint Diameter (μm) 6. 2 9. 9 Average Pb Concentration (ng m-3) Average Concentration (ng m-3) 4, 5

Average concentration of heavy metals over an annual period (2009) 3, 5 12, 0 Cd Pb 10, 0 2, 5 AZ HAPS: (Chronic) guidance levels for Arsenic 2, 0 8, 0 6, 0 1, 5 4, 0 1, 0 0, 5 2, 0 0, 0 18 AF 0. 054 0. 18 0. 32 0. 55 1. 0 1. 8 Cutpoint Diameter (μm) 3. 1 6. 2 9. 9 Average Pb Concentration (ng m-3) Average Concentration (ng m-3) 3, 0 As

ANNUAL WIND SPEED & DIRECTION: HAYDEN-WINKLEMAN WIND ROSE Smelter: (Fine particles) Mine tailings: (Coarse particles)

CONCLUSIONS & FUTURE WORK v Arsenic found in accumulation mode in concentrations above Arizona HAPS guideline v Lead also found in high concentrations in area Solve issue of complex topography and its effect on modeling Move MOUDI to new locations to assess new backgrounds and sources Study effects metal concentrations have on local population

THANK YOU Dr. Eric Betterton – Department of Atmospheric Sciences NIEHS Superfund Research Program Brian Barbaris – Department of Chemical & Environmental Engineering Susan Brew – NASA Space Grant Kyle Rine – Department of Physics

QUESTIONS?