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Wet Deposition of Trace Metals in Singapore

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Abstract

The concentrations of 12 trace metals (Al, Cd, Cr, Cu, Co, Fe,Mn, Ni, Pb, Zn, V, and Ti) in wet depositions are reported. Eighty four rainwater samples were collected using an automated wet-only sampler in Singapore for one year (2000) and subjected to chemical analysis using ICP-MS. Based on the volume-weighted meanconcentrations measured, the trace metals were classified into three groups: Al and Fe with an average concentration of largerthan 15 μg L-1, Cr, Cu, Mn, Ni, Pb, Zn, V, and Ti withconcentrations between 1 and 10 μg L-1, and finally Co and Cd with concentrations lower than 1 μg L-1. Elementenrichment factors were calculated to distinguish between naturaland anthropogenic sources. The calculation of crustal enrichmentfactors with Al as the reference element indicated that while Ti,Fe and Mn originated from crustal sources, the remaining trace metals (Cd, Cr, Co, Cu, Ni, Pb, Zn and V) were mainly derived from anthropogenic sources. The removal of the trace metals from the atmosphere by precipitation was influenced by the rainfall amount as well as pH. The magnitude of the measured average annual wet deposition fluxes of Al, Fe, and combustion-generatedelements such as V, Ni, and Cu is higher than that reportedfor other sites outside Singapore, owing to abundant rainfallthroughout the year in this region.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, National University of Singapore, Singapore

    G.-P. Hu & R. Balasubramanian

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  1. G.-P. Hu
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  2. R. Balasubramanian
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Correspondence to R. Balasubramanian.

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Hu, GP., Balasubramanian, R. Wet Deposition of Trace Metals in Singapore. Water, Air, & Soil Pollution 144, 285–300 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1022921418383

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