Heavy metal accumulation in windowsill dusts in the urban area of Jiyuan, China

Ruilong Lua, W. Xinga, J. Ippolitob, K. Maoa, X. Chena, L. Lia

a School of Chemistry and the Environment, Henan University of Technology, China

b Department of Soil and Crop Sciences, Colorado State University, USA

1028940359@qq.com

Lead smelting may lead to increased levels of heavy metals and human health risk. We investigated lead smelting effect on particulate matter heavy metal accumulation in the urban area of Jiyuan City, China. Twenty eight windowsill dust samples were collected from seven sampling areas in urban Jiyuan; five windowsill dust samples were collected near the Yuguang lead smelting facility to the northwest of urban Jiyuan; three control windowsill dust samples were collected from the DWL village, not affected by lead smelting. Soil samples were also collected where the windowsill dust samples were collected. Sample analysis indicated that: i) for dust samples from the Jiyuan urban area, Pb, Cd, Cu and Zn mean dust (10-45 μm) concentrations were 2540±455, 67.5±14.1, 306±11.4 and 2937±2492 mg/kg, respectively, while those of the >45 μm portion were 1079±430, 52.4±18.9, 203±59 and 2421±1853 mg/kg, respectively. Jiyuan dust Pb and Cd concentrations were 11 to 18% of samples collected near the Yuguang, while they were 2.68 to 5.55 times greater than DWL area concentrations; ii) the maximum Zn concentration was 22500 mg/kg, alarmingly found in a sample collected from the People’s Hospital; iii) the mean Jiyuan soil Pb, Cd, Cu and Zn concentrations were 270±94, 7.95±4.48, 51.6±12.0 and 270±111 mg/kg, respectively; and iv) linear correlation between the dust and soil samples indicated that a stronger correlation existed between Pb and Cd concentrations in the 10-45 μm versus the >45 μm portion of dusts and soil. Overall results suggest that lead smelting activities can result in elevated particulate dust Pb, Cd, Cu and Zn concentrations in nearby environments, with greater metal concentrations existing in the 10-45 μm portion versus the >45 μm portion. Metal bioaccessibility in the dusts should be determined to assess environmental and human health risk.

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