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Assessing the distribution, composition and potential human health implications of metal-bearing particulate matter in the Saldanha Bay Municipality

Air pollution through the emission of particulate matter (PM) can have a significant impact on the surrounding environment. PM2.5 and PM10 is of particular concern as it is known to reduce the quality of air and can cause adverse health effects on surrounding communities. The overarching aim of this...

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Main Author: Ebrahim, Laylaa
Other Authors: Broadhurst, Jennifer Lee
Format: Thesis
Language:English
English
Published: Department of Chemical Engineering 2025
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access_status_str Open Access
author Ebrahim, Laylaa
author2 Broadhurst, Jennifer Lee
author_browse Broadhurst, Jennifer Lee
Ebrahim, Laylaa
author_facet Broadhurst, Jennifer Lee
Ebrahim, Laylaa
author_sort Ebrahim, Laylaa
collection Thesis
description Air pollution through the emission of particulate matter (PM) can have a significant impact on the surrounding environment. PM2.5 and PM10 is of particular concern as it is known to reduce the quality of air and can cause adverse health effects on surrounding communities. The overarching aim of this paper was to assess the particulate matter (PM) concentration and composition in the Saldanha Bay Municipality, and based on these results, to assess the potential sources and potential health implications of these emissions. To address the aim and objectives, this paper includes the selection of the sampling/monitoring sites and the collection of background data. The processing and interpretation of the primary data from PM monitoring and sample collection provides a view in understanding the nature and patterns of PM pollution and the potential sources and health risks associated with these emissions. PM concentrations were obtained from PurpleAir Particulate Sensors and physical PM samples were collected from gravimetric samplers, dust fallout buckets and BSNEs for elemental and mineral analysis. Pollution roses and polar plots were constructed to assist in determining the potential origins and sources of emission in the municipality. Minerals such as hematite, lead, arsenic, thorium and uranium, to mention a few, were found in the samples and could potentially result in negative health implications to those in surrounding communities. It is envisaged that the results from this paper can be used to inform future studies by providing information on the potential components of concern and their possible sources.
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institution University of Cape Town (South Africa)
language English
eng
last_indexed 2026-06-10T12:44:49.946Z
license_str Not specified — see source repository
provenance_str_mv Harvested via OAI-PMH from UCTD — University of Cape Town Open Access Repository
publishDate 2025
publishDateRange 2025
publishDateSort 2025
publisher Department of Chemical Engineering
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spelling oai:open.uct.ac.za:11427/42214 Assessing the distribution, composition and potential human health implications of metal-bearing particulate matter in the Saldanha Bay Municipality Ebrahim, Laylaa Broadhurst, Jennifer Lee Von Holdt, Johanna Particulate matter Emission Dust Sensors Gravimetric samplers Minerals Air pollution through the emission of particulate matter (PM) can have a significant impact on the surrounding environment. PM2.5 and PM10 is of particular concern as it is known to reduce the quality of air and can cause adverse health effects on surrounding communities. The overarching aim of this paper was to assess the particulate matter (PM) concentration and composition in the Saldanha Bay Municipality, and based on these results, to assess the potential sources and potential health implications of these emissions. To address the aim and objectives, this paper includes the selection of the sampling/monitoring sites and the collection of background data. The processing and interpretation of the primary data from PM monitoring and sample collection provides a view in understanding the nature and patterns of PM pollution and the potential sources and health risks associated with these emissions. PM concentrations were obtained from PurpleAir Particulate Sensors and physical PM samples were collected from gravimetric samplers, dust fallout buckets and BSNEs for elemental and mineral analysis. Pollution roses and polar plots were constructed to assist in determining the potential origins and sources of emission in the municipality. Minerals such as hematite, lead, arsenic, thorium and uranium, to mention a few, were found in the samples and could potentially result in negative health implications to those in surrounding communities. It is envisaged that the results from this paper can be used to inform future studies by providing information on the potential components of concern and their possible sources. 2025-11-13T10:51:48Z 2025-11-13T10:51:48Z 2025 2025-11-13T10:47:37Z Thesis / Dissertation Masters MSc http://hdl.handle.net/11427/42214 en eng application/pdf Department of Chemical Engineering Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment University of Cape Town
spellingShingle Particulate matter
Emission
Dust
Sensors
Gravimetric samplers
Minerals
Ebrahim, Laylaa
Assessing the distribution, composition and potential human health implications of metal-bearing particulate matter in the Saldanha Bay Municipality
thesis_degree_str Master's
title Assessing the distribution, composition and potential human health implications of metal-bearing particulate matter in the Saldanha Bay Municipality
title_full Assessing the distribution, composition and potential human health implications of metal-bearing particulate matter in the Saldanha Bay Municipality
title_fullStr Assessing the distribution, composition and potential human health implications of metal-bearing particulate matter in the Saldanha Bay Municipality
title_full_unstemmed Assessing the distribution, composition and potential human health implications of metal-bearing particulate matter in the Saldanha Bay Municipality
title_short Assessing the distribution, composition and potential human health implications of metal-bearing particulate matter in the Saldanha Bay Municipality
title_sort assessing the distribution composition and potential human health implications of metal bearing particulate matter in the saldanha bay municipality
topic Particulate matter
Emission
Dust
Sensors
Gravimetric samplers
Minerals
url http://hdl.handle.net/11427/42214
work_keys_str_mv AT ebrahimlaylaa assessingthedistributioncompositionandpotentialhumanhealthimplicationsofmetalbearingparticulatematterinthesaldanhabaymunicipality