Heavy-metal contamination and solid-phase fractionation in street dust

ABSTRACT

Fourteen street-dust samples were collected from Hamedan, western Iran. Street-dust samples received different amounts of heavy-metal pollution. The samples were analyzed for total cadmium (Cd), copper (Cu), lead (Pb), nickel (Ni), and zinc (Zn), and binding forms of heavy metal were determined in five fractions. The results showed Cd was the only metal present appreciably, 25.21% and 25.92%, in the exchangeable and carbonates fractions, respectively, and Cu was the only metal predominantly associated, 31.77%, with organic fraction. Zn, 45.84%, was present mainly in the Fe–Mn oxide fraction, and the residual fraction was the most dominant solid phase pool of Ni and Pb, respectively, with 42.56% and 41.31%. The order of apparent mobility and potential metal bioavailability for these contaminated street-dust samples is Cd > Zn > Cu > Pb > Ni. The risk-assessment code results showed very high risk for Cd; medium risk for Cu, Pb, and Zn; and low risk for Ni.

KEYWORDS:

• Fractionation
• heavy metal
• risk assessment code
• street dust

Acknowledgments

The authors gratefully acknowledge Professor M. Jalali, of Agriculture College, Bu Ali Sina University, for his idea for this work.