1. Introduction
Man-made pollution is of concern to the society as a whole and
efforts are made nowadays worldwide to minimize its effects on
the global population and on climate changes. The major source of
anthropogenic pollution since the industrial revolution is burning
of fossil fuels, and automobile traffic has a significant contribution
to that, at least in highly populated areas. The main concern associated
with pollution due to automobile traffic is the production
of the green-house gases CO and CO2, and gases related to acid
rain, such as NOx and SO2. However, even if this is indeed the most
problematic pollution, the vehicles also release particles into theatmosphere, such as soot, and through other means such as brake
pads, tires, road surface, re-suspension of soil and road dust [1]. As
a consequence, new challenges have been posed to human health
and the environment by emerging pollutants, the importance of
which was recognized only recently.
In this context, more efficient and reliable analytical controls
have been solicited by environmental agencies and governmental
offices in different countries, where programs for monitoring
particle emission and the presence of metals and metalloids in
air particulate matter (APM) have been established. Formulation
of cost-effective air pollution control policies depends on a sound
knowledge of source contribution to ambient concentrations.
Epidemiological and toxicological studies provide documented
evidence of an increase in morbidity, or even fatalities, with
the exposure to exceedingly high levels of toxic elements such
as As, Cd, Cr, Ni, Pb and Sb in the inhalable fractions of APM
1. Introduction
Man-made pollution is of concern to the society as a whole and
efforts are made nowadays worldwide to minimize its effects on
the global population and on climate changes. The major source of
anthropogenic pollution since the industrial revolution is burning
of fossil fuels, and automobile traffic has a significant contribution
to that, at least in highly populated areas. The main concern associated
with pollution due to automobile traffic is the production
of the green-house gases CO and CO2, and gases related to acid
rain, such as NOx and SO2. However, even if this is indeed the most
problematic pollution, the vehicles also release particles into theatmosphere, such as soot, and through other means such as brake
pads, tires, road surface, re-suspension of soil and road dust [1]. As
a consequence, new challenges have been posed to human health
and the environment by emerging pollutants, the importance of
which was recognized only recently.
In this context, more efficient and reliable analytical controls
have been solicited by environmental agencies and governmental
offices in different countries, where programs for monitoring
particle emission and the presence of metals and metalloids in
air particulate matter (APM) have been established. Formulation
of cost-effective air pollution control policies depends on a sound
knowledge of source contribution to ambient concentrations.
Epidemiological and toxicological studies provide documented
evidence of an increase in morbidity, or even fatalities, with
the exposure to exceedingly high levels of toxic elements such
as As, Cd, Cr, Ni, Pb and Sb in the inhalable fractions of APM
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