MANGANESE AND LEAD CONCENTRATIONS IN AMBIENT AIR AND EMISSION RATES FROM UNLEADED AND LEADED GASOLINE BETWEEN 1981 AND 1992 IN CANADA - A COMPARATIVE-STUDY
S. Loranger et J. Zayed, MANGANESE AND LEAD CONCENTRATIONS IN AMBIENT AIR AND EMISSION RATES FROM UNLEADED AND LEADED GASOLINE BETWEEN 1981 AND 1992 IN CANADA - A COMPARATIVE-STUDY, Atmospheric environment, 28(9), 1994, pp. 1645-1651
Methylcyclopentadienyl manganese tricarbonyl (MMT) is an organic deriv
ative of manganese (Mn) used as an additive in unleaded gasoline. Its
use in Canada has increased since 1976 until it completely replaced le
ad (Pb) in gasoline in 1990. Canada is the only country in the world t
o have authorized the replacement of Pb in gasoline by MMT. The aim of
this study is to compare the concentrations of Mn, Pb and suspended p
articulates (TSP) in Montreal air from 1981 to 1992, as well as the em
ission rates of Mn and Pb from mobile sources from the same period. Th
e atmospheric concentrations of Mn, Pb and TSP were measured by the Mo
ntreal Urban Community at three sampling stations located in areas of
low and high traffic density. The data on emission rates were obtained
from Environment Canada and from the Canadian Petroleum Products Inst
itute. Multiple regression and non-parametric correlation analysis wer
e used to predict and to compare the evolution of the chosen variables
. Discriminant analysis was used to determine the variables which best
distinguish low and high traffic density areas. The results indicate
stable Mn concentrations between 1981 and 1990 followed by a substanti
al decrease, in spite of annual increases of about 10% in Mn emissions
from the combustion of MMT since 1981. The decrease observed since 19
91 is attributed to the closing of a ferromanganese plant near Montrea
l. The decrease in atmospheric Pb concentrations observed since 1981 c
orresponds to the decrease of about 30% per year of emissions from mob
ile sources over the same period. A definitive evaluation of the envir
onmental contamination and exposure due to Mn from MMT will require an
improved estimation of the dispersion of particulates near motorways
using dispersion models, as well as receptor modeling based on the phy
sicochemical analysis of particulates using electron microscopy.