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Trace elements in street and house dusts: sources and speciation
1Department of Chemistry, University of Canterbury, Christchurch, New Zealand.
The Science of the Total Environment
|March 1, 1991
Summary
Street and house dusts contain enriched trace elements from soil and pollution. Understanding their sources and speciation is crucial for assessing environmental and health risks.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Science
- Analytical Chemistry
- Geochemistry
Background:
- Street and house dusts are complex mixtures, primarily composed of soil.
- Several trace elements are found at enriched levels in both street and house dusts compared to their soil origins.
- These enriched elements originate from diverse contributing and polluting sources.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the sources and speciation of trace elements in street and house dusts.
- To identify elements that are enriched in dusts and their origins.
- To discuss challenges in determining trace element speciation in dust samples.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing literature on trace element analysis in dusts.
- Identification of enriched elements (e.g., Pb, Zn, Cu, Cd, As, Sb) in dust samples.
- Discussion of analytical challenges, including low concentrations and interpretation of selective sequential extractions.
Main Results:
- Soil is a significant component of both street and house dusts.
- Enrichment of elements like Pb, Zn, Cu, Cd, As, Sb, Cr, Ca, Na, Au, Cl, and Br in dusts was observed.
- Specific elements (Cu, Co, As, Sb, Zn, Cd, Au, Cl, C, Pb) are generated within the house environment.
Conclusions:
- Trace element enrichment in dusts is influenced by both soil composition and anthropogenic pollution.
- Accurate speciation determination of trace elements in dusts presents analytical difficulties.
- The mobility and bioavailability of trace elements in dust follow the order: Cd > Zn, Pb > Mn, Cu > Fe.