SEM-EDX IDENTIFICATION AND CHARACTERIZATION OF AIRBORNE MICROSPHERES: POTENTIAL EFFECTS ON HUMAN HEALTH

Abstract

Airborne particulate matter (PM) are a major environmental pollutant adversely affecting human health. Exposure to atmospheric PM is correlated with significant damages to physiological systems from respiratory and circulatory level to reproductive and central nervous systems. The paper describes the elemental composition of a particular category of PM2.5 – microspheres, originate in exhaust pipes of automobiles and deposited onto vegetation planted along the roads. Microspheres were characterized using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy-dispersive X-ray (EDX). Based on size and chemical composition, the hazard on human health of identified microspheres was evaluated. SEM investigation showed that microspheres size was between 3 and 0.5 μm. EDX analysis indicate that microspheres have a complex elemental structure, which concentrate mainly Si and Al in combination with Mg, Na, Fe, K, Ca and Cl, and seldom Ba and Ti. Our results showed that detected airborne microsphere are breathable and potential harmful to human health.