Heavy metal contamination of street dust of Canton Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina – Health risk assessment

Abstract

The objective of the study was to assess the health risk related to the presence of heavy metals in street dust samples collected from Canton Sarajevo (CS). Street dust samples (42) were grouped in three categories: high density traffic roads, medical centers/parking and parks. The mean concentrations for Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb, V and Zn determined by flame atomic absorption spectrometry (FAAS) were 1.71, 30.99, 74.85, 674.4, 221.9, 33.16, 41.46, 22.97 and 53.92 μg/g, respectively. According to correlation matrix analysis very strong positive correlation was found between Zn and Fe. The Hazard index (HI) values for non-carcinogenic substances for adults and children were 2.46E-1 and 1.31E + 00, respectively. There is a possibility of occurring of non-carcinogenic effects of street dust on children, as opposed to adults. Exposure pathway that most impact the non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic risk, for both, children and adults, is the ingestion followed by the dermal and inhalation route. The carcinogenic risk caused by Cd, Cr and Pb in the street dust could be considered negligible.

Keywords:

• Street dust
• health risk assessment
• exposure pathway
• heavy metals

Disclosure statement

Authors declare no conflict of interest.