Distribution, sources and health risks of heavy metals in indoor dust across China. (February 2023)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Wang, Mengmeng; Lv, Yinyi; Lv, Xinyan; Wang, Qianhan; Li, Yiyi; Lu, Ping; Yu, Hao; Wei, Pengkun; Cao, Zhiguo; An, Taicheng
• Is Part Of: Chemosphere. Volume 313(2023)
• Publication Date: 2023-02
• Subjects: Indoor dust -- Heavy metal -- Spatial distribution -- Contamination level -- Health risk; Pollution -- Periodicals; Pollution -- Physiological effect -- Periodicals; Environmental sciences -- Periodicals; Atmospheric chemistry -- Periodicals; 551.511
• DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2022.137595
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0045-6535

Abstract

Abstract: The potential effects of heavy metals on human health have attracted increasing attention as most people spend up to 90% of their time indoors. Human exposure to heavy metals in indoor dust have only been characterised for limited regions in China, and full-scale data for different functional areas are not available. Therefore, this review analysed the concentrations, contamination characteristics, and potential health risks of seven heavy metals (including zinc (Zn), lead (Pb), copper (Cu), chromium (Cr), nickel (Ni), arsenic (As), and cadmium (Cd)) in indoor dust at 3392 sampling sites in 55 cities across 27 provincial regions of China based on literature data. Results revealed that the median heavy metal concentrations in indoor dust throughout China decreased in the following order: Zn > Pb > Cu > Cr > Ni > As > Cd. Traffic emissions and decorative materials are the primary sources of heavy metal pollution in indoor dust. No considerable non-carcinogenic risk was found for Zn, Cu, Cr, Ni, and Cd in indoor dust, while Pb and As exhibited potential non-carcinogenic risks to children, primarily distributed in cities across Southern China. Meanwhile, the carcinogenic risks posed by Cr and Ni were higher than those posed by As and Cd, especially in Southern China. Therefore, effective measures in Southern China should prioritised for controlling Pb, Cr, Ni and As pollution in indoor dust to reduce human health risk. This review is useful for policy decision-making and protecting human from exposure to heavy metals in indoor dust across China. Graphical abstract: Image 1 Highlights: The contaminations of heavy metals in Southern China were significantly higher than Northern China. The concentrations of Pb, Cu, and Cr during 2014–2021 were significantly lower than those in 1998–2013. Cd contamination level was the highest compared to other metals. Traffic emissions and decorative materials are the primary sources of heavy metals in indoor dust. More attention should be paid to the non-carcinogenic risk of Pb and As and cancer risk of Cr, Ni, and As.