Lead isotope characterization of petroleum fuels in Taipei, Taiwan
Journal
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
Journal Volume
12
Journal Issue
5
Pages
4602-4616
Date Issued
2015
Author(s)
Abstract
Leaded gasoline in Taiwan was gradually phased out from 1983 to 2000. However, it is unclear whether unleaded gasoline still contributes to atmospheric lead (Pb) exposure in urban areas. In this study, Pb isotopic compositions of unleaded gasolines, with octane numbers of 92, 95, 98, and diesel from two local suppliers in Taipei were determined by multi-collector inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry with a two-sigma uncertainty of ± 0.02%. Lead isotopic ratios of vehicle exhaust (208Pb/207Pb: 2.427,206Pb/207Pb: 1.148, as estimated from petroleum fuels) overlap with the reported aerosol data. This agreement indicates that local unleaded petroleum fuels, containing 10–45 ng·Pb·g−1, are merely one contributor among various sources to urban aerosol Pb. Additionally, the distinction between the products of the two companies is statistically significant in their individual208Pb/206Pb ratios (p-value < 0.001, t test). Lead isotopic characterization appears to be applicable as a “fingerprinting” tool for tracing the sources of Pb pollution. © 2015 by the authors; licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.
Subjects
Environmental forensics; Petroleum fuels; Stable lead isotopes
Other Subjects
gasoline; lead; petroleum; aerosol; exhaust gas; isotope; lead; petroleum; aerosol; atmospheric pollution; exhaust emission; forensic science; isotopic composition; lead isotope; petroleum; pollutant source; stable isotope; urban pollution; Article; atmospheric deposition; biochemical composition; climate change; combustion; concentration (parameters); environmental monitoring; exhaust gas; mass spectrometry; oil industry; pollution transport; Taiwan; uncertainty; urban area; aerosol; analysis; pollution; Taipei; Taiwan; Aerosols; Environmental Monitoring; Environmental Pollution; Isotopes; Lead; Petroleum; Taiwan; Vehicle Emissions
Type
journal article