Volatile metal and metalloid species (Pb, Hg, Se) in a European urban atmosphere (Bordeaux, France)

Ambient air measurements of volatile metal and metalloid compounds were con ducted in a European urban environment (Bordeaux, France). Air samples were collected with a cryogenic trap and analyzed by low-temperature gas chroma tography with ICP/MS detection. Indoor and outdoor sites were studied. Tetr aalkyllead compounds (Me4-nEtnPb, n = 0-4) and elemental mercury were found to be the major volatile metal species. Average concentrations of 15.5 and 2.7 ng/m(3) as metal have been reported respectively for total alkyllead s pecies and elemental mercury in open area. These results illustrate the gen eral phasing out of atmospheric lead initiated in the past decade. Accumula tion of dimethyl selenide has been recorded in a building probably originat ing from human breath. Volatile metal species distribution in the different sites is discussed with reg a rds to meteorologic al conditions and automo tive traffic parameters. Occurrence of unknown volatile metal and metalloid species likely to occur in urban environment is also reported and discusse d.