Sobre la presencia de algunos metales pesados en la atmósfera de la Ciudad de México

Abstract

The concentrations of Cd and Pb at Ciudad Universitaria have increased by 1.4 and 3.6, times respectively, during the last two years. Cu, Zn and Cd show a seasonal variation and follow the atmospheric turbidity pattern of Mexico City (19°20' N, 2,268 m. a.s.l.). Fe and Pb behave randomly during the whole year. The concentrations of Fe, Cd and Pb show a log-normal distribution; those of Cu and Zn differe from this type of distribution. These results were obtained from atmospheric aerosol samples collected during 14 months (July 1979 - August 1980) at the Atmospheric Radiation Observatory of Ciudad Universitaria, located in the southern part of Mexico City. 59 samples selected at random were analyzed by the atomic absorption method and the concentrations of five heavy metals were determined.