Spatial distribution, risk estimation and source apportionment of potentially toxic metal(loid)s in resuspended megacity street dust. (February 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Fan, Peng; Lu, Xinwei; Yu, Bo; Fan, Xinyao; Wang, Lingqing; Lei, Kai; Yang, Yufan; Zuo, Ling; Rinklebe, Jörg
• Is Part Of: Environment international. Volume 160(2022)
• Publication Date: 2022-02
• Subjects: Potentially toxic metal(loid)s -- Risk assessment -- Multivariate statistical analysis -- Positive matrix factorization -- Resuspended street dust; Environmental protection -- Periodicals; Environmental health -- Periodicals; Environmental monitoring -- Periodicals; Environmental Monitoring -- Periodicals; Environnement -- Protection -- Périodiques; Hygiène du milieu -- Périodiques; Environnement -- Surveillance -- Périodiques; Environmental health; Environmental monitoring; Environmental protection; Periodicals; 333.705
• DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2021.107073
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0160-4120

Abstract

Graphical abstract: Highlights: Average levels of Zn, As, Pb, Cu, Co, and Hg exceeded the background values of local soil. The overall ecological risk of potentially toxic metals was high, driven by Hg. The potentially toxic metals in dust posed no health risks to local residents currently. Traffic and coal-related industrial activities are the main anthropogenic sources. Abstract: The levels of potentially toxic metal(loid)s (PTMs) As, Cu, Co, Cr, Hg, Mn, Ni, Pb, and Zn in resuspended street dust (<100 μm particles) from a megacity in north China were determined. The sources of PTMs in resuspended street dust were analyzed using multivariate statistical analysis and positive matrix factorization methods that combined the spatial distributions of PTMs. Average levels of Zn, As, Pb, Cu, Co, and Hg exceeded those found in local soil samples, while those of Cr, Mn, and Ni were less than their background levels found in local soil. The overall contamination of PTMs in resuspended street dust was characterized as moderately contaminated and as uncontaminated to moderately contaminated. The ecological risk associated with Hg was very high, while the ecological risks associated with Cu, Co, Cr, Mn, Ni, Pb, and Zn were low. The overall ecological risk of PTMs was defined as high, driven by Hg. The non–carcinogenic risks of PTMs to inhabitants fell within safety limits, and the carcinogenic risks of As, Co, Cr, and Ni were below receivable values. A comprehensive analysis of PTMs sources revealed that Co, Zn, Cu, and Pb were principally associated with traffic emissions, which accounted for about 38.3% of these PTMs' contents. Mn, Ni, and Cr were mainly generated by natural source, which contributed to about 41.5% of these PTMs' concentrations. Hg and As were primarily derived from coal–related industrial source, which accounted for 77.9% of Hg and 62.9% of As in resuspended street dust. This study demonstrates that coal–related industrial discharges and traffic emissions are the main anthropogenic sources of PTMs contamination in resuspended street dust in the study area.