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Health Risks and Contamination Levels of Heavy Metals in Dusts from Parks and Squares of an Industrial City in Semi-Arid Area of China

Author

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  • Xiufeng Han

    (Department of Environmental Science, School of Geography and Tourism, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi’an 710119, China
    College of Resources and Environment, Baotou Normal College, Science and Technology University of Inner Mongolia, Baotou 014030, China)

  • Xinwei Lu

    (Department of Environmental Science, School of Geography and Tourism, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi’an 710119, China)

  • Qinggeletu

    (Department of Geography, North heavy industry No.3 Middle School, Baotou 014030, China)

  • Yongfu Wu

    (Department of Environmental Science, School of Geography and Tourism, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi’an 710119, China)

Abstract

The contamination characteristics and health risk of barium (Ba), cobalt (Co), chromium (Cr), copper (Cu), manganese (Mn), nickel (Ni), lead (Pb), vanadium (V), zinc (Zn), arsenic (As), mercury (Hg), and cadmium (Cd) in samples of dust gathered from squares and parks of Baotou city, an industrial city situated in a semi-arid location of the northwest China were investigated. The contents of Ba, Co, Cr, Cu, Mn, Ni, V, Pb, and Zn in the collected dust samples were determined using X-ray fluorescence spectrometry, while the contents of As and Hg in the dust were investigated by use of the ICP-MS. Further, cadmium was quantified through the atomic absorption spectrometry. Levels of contamination of heavy metals analyzed in the dust samples were evaluated using the Geo-Accumulation index ( I geo ) as well as through a Pollution Load Index ( PLI ). Their health risks to children and adults were evaluated based on the US EPA model of health risk. The findings portrayed that the mean concentrations of Ba, Co Cr, Cu, Pb, V, Cd, and Hg were elevated as compared with their local soil background values. Mean values of I geo illustrate the order of Co > Cr> Cd > Hg > Pb > Cu > Ba > V > Ni > Mn > Zn > As. It was evident that dusts from the parks and squares were “unpolluted” to “moderately polluted”. Assessment of health risk depicts that ingestion is the foremost route of exposure in regard to the heavy metals, then the dermal adsorption follows. Hg exposure from dust might also set impending health threats to children. Besides, the cancer risks of Co, Cr, Ni, Cd, and As are considered to be within the presently tolerable range.

Suggested Citation

  • Xiufeng Han & Xinwei Lu & Qinggeletu & Yongfu Wu, 2017. "Health Risks and Contamination Levels of Heavy Metals in Dusts from Parks and Squares of an Industrial City in Semi-Arid Area of China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 14(8), pages 1-12, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:14:y:2017:i:8:p:886-:d:107260
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Ni Zhao & Xinwei Lu & Shigang Chao, 2014. "Level and Contamination Assessment of Environmentally Sensitive Elements in Smaller than 100 μm Street Dust Particles from Xining, China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 11(3), pages 1-14, February.
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    Cited by:

    1. Michael J. O’Shea & Jonas Toupal & Hasibe Caballero-Gómez & Thomas P. McKeon & Marilyn V. Howarth & Richard Pepino & Reto Gieré, 2021. "Lead Pollution, Demographics, and Environmental Health Risks: The Case of Philadelphia, USA," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(17), pages 1-22, August.
    2. Nargiza Kavsar & Mamattursun Eziz & Nazupar Sidikjan, 2023. "Pollution and Health Risk Assessment of Hazardous Elements in Surface Dust along an Urbanization Gradient," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(15), pages 1-13, August.
    3. Fei Li & Minsi Xiao & Jingdong Zhang & Chaoyang Liu & Zhenzhen Qiu & Ying Cai, 2018. "Spatial Distribution, Chemical Fraction and Fuzzy Comprehensive Risk Assessment of Heavy Metals in Surface Sediments from the Honghu Lake, China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(2), pages 1-17, January.
    4. Xiuyun Yang & Mamattursun Eziz & Adila Hayrat & Xiaofei Ma & Wei Yan & Kaixuan Qian & Jiaxin Li & Yuan Liu & Yifan Wang, 2022. "Heavy Metal Pollution and Risk Assessment of Surface Dust in the Arid NW China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(20), pages 1-21, October.
    5. Zhao Liu & Ye Kuang & Shengtao Lan & Wenjia Cao & Ziqi Yan & Li Chen & Qianlong Chen & Qi Feng & Hong Zhou, 2021. "Pollution Distribution of Potentially Toxic Elements in a Karstic River Affected by Manganese Mining in Changyang, Western Hubei, Central China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(4), pages 1-15, February.
    6. Xiaotao Zhang & Ximing Wang & Zhangjing Chen, 2017. "Radioactive Cobalt(II) Removal from Aqueous Solutions Using a Reusable Nanocomposite: Kinetic, Isotherms, and Mechanistic Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 14(12), pages 1-19, November.
    7. Sonnia Parra & Hanns de la Fuente-Mella & Andrea González-Rojas & Manuel A. Bravo, 2024. "Exposure to Environmental Pollution in Schools of Puchuncaví, Chile: Characterization of Heavy Metals, Health Risk Assessment, and Effects on Children’s Academic Performance," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(6), pages 1-31, March.

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