Mobilisation and uptake of anthropogenic Pt, Pd and Rh emissions in the environment
Abstract
Over the past 20 years the determination of platinum group elements (PGE) has received special interest in order to evaluate possible risks for human health and living organisms. This interest is motivated by the increased use of Pt, Pd and Rh as catalysts in car exhaust systems, the medical application of platinum containing drugs in anti-cancer chemotherapy, and the use of different PGE as catalyst metals during the synthesis of pharmaceuticals. All these applications contribute to the increase of the concentration of PGE in environmentally relevant matrices, especially in roadside dusts, soils and plants, which consequently may affect the health of human beings and other living organisms. Although a lot of work has been dedicated to the determination of PGE in environmental, biological and clinical samples information about the environmental pathways of PGE - from automobile emission to biological accumulation - is still very sparse. The purpose of this project is to extend the current knowledge on environmental transformation, mobility, speciation and bioavailability of anthropogenic Pt, Pd and Rh emissions. The proposed research covers the following innovative aspects: A major goal of the present project is to assess the fraction of Pt, Pd and Rh in solid environmental matrices which can be mobilised under environmental conditions. A novel dynamic extraction procedure will be developed for time-resolved investigation of the mobilization process - providing insight into leaching kinetics. Partitioning between organically complexed and labile Pt, Pd and Rh species in aqueous extracts of aerosol, road dust and soil samples will be investigated for assessment of the environmental and biological significance of mobilised species. Pt, Pd and Rh uptake potential of Ni hyperaccumulator plants and Ni excluder species will be studied to explore the uptake of traffic related Pt, Pd and Rh emissions by the terrestrial biosphere. In a model study the mobilisation and bioaccessibility of Pt, Pd and Rh inhaled via urban particulate matter will be investigated to provide information about the mobility of inhaled metals. Automation and further enhancement of existing procedures for sample preparation and analysis to allow an accurate detection of Pd, Rh and Pt in environmental, biological and medical samples. The project will be performed in collaboration with the University of Natural Resources and Applied Life Sciences BOKU - Vienna (Department of Chemistry and Department of Forest and Soil Sciences) and the University of Munich (Institute and Outpatient Clinic for Occupational and Environmental Medicine).
Publikationen
Project staff
Stephan Hann
Univ.Prof. Dr. Stephan Hann
stephan.hann@boku.ac.at
Tel: +43 1 47654-77001, 77191
BOKU Project Leader
01.10.2008 - 30.09.2011
Walter Wenzel
Univ.Prof. Dipl.-Ing. Dr.nat.techn. Walter Wenzel
walter.wenzel@boku.ac.at
Tel: +43 1 47654-91143, 91161
Sub Projectleader
01.10.2008 - 30.09.2011
BOKU partners
External partners
Technical University Vienna, Institut für Analytische Chemie
Dr. Limbeck
coordinator