Sources of atmospheric pollution in the rust belt, Ohio, USA

Industrial regions in the rust belt are sites of significant legacy atmospheric pollution, and despite recent regulations, continue to be sites of ongoing atmospheric emissions of toxic metals. Source attribution in such areas is complicated by the presence of multiple potential point sources, including steel production plants and coal fired power plants. This study focuses on a region in Ohio, USA, in the vicinity of a steel manufacturing plant and coke production facility. Scanning electron microscopy of atmospheric particulate matter, combined with major and trace element and Pb and Os isotopic analysis of dust, lichen and tree bark, have been employed to identify the primary contributors to the atmospheric metal load. Our results suggest that steel production, coal burning, and traffic emissions are all significant sources of metals to the local environment.