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Background: The release of metals from industrial factories is one of the most important sources ofenvironmental pollution. The present study aimed to determine the concentration of heavy metals likecadmium (Cd), chromium (Cr), manganese (Mn), nickel (Ni), and lead (Pb) in dust around the cementfactory.Methods: A total of 22 dust samples were collected from areas around the cement factory in Isfahanprovince in spring and summer and transferred to laboratory for chemical digestion. Risk index (RI),integrated pollution index (IPI), mean of contamination degree (mCd), and contamination factor (Cfi)were calculated to determine the contamination status.Results: The concentration of heavy metals in the falling dust around the factory was expressed as Cd<Ni <Pb <Mn <Cr. Pearson correlation showed that there is only a significant negative relationshipbetween the concentration of Cd and the distance from the factory. By increasing the distance from thefactory, the concentration of Cd in dust decreased. The results of falling dust analysis showed that Crhas a high-risk potential in two seasons of spring and summer and Cd has a middle level of pollutionin spring.Conclusion: According to the results, the deposited dust of study area is considered as a polluted dustand it is at higher risk of pollution with Cd and Cr.

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Here, a zinc-based metal–organic framework-decorated graphene oxide (MOF@GO) nanocomposite was synthesized and incorporated within a polyacrylonitrile (PAN) nanofibrous filter to enhance the particulate matter (PM) removal efficiency. For this purpose, the PAN nanofibrous filters containing different contents of the MOF@GO nanocomposite (PAN/MOF@GO) were fabricated, and their morphology was studied using field-emission scanning electron microscopy. The results revealed the formation of uniform and bead-free nanofibers with the MOF@GO wrapping tightly around them. The resultant nanofibrous filters were evaluated for PM removal and possible breath monitoring. The results revealed good mechanical properties with freestanding ability and hydrophobic behavior of the PAN/MOF@GO nanofibrous filters, indicating the possibility of long-term application in high humidity conditions. More importantly, the optimized PAN/MOF@GO nanofibrous filter exhibited a high PM filtration efficiency (95.13%), low pressure drop (15.29 Pa), and superior quality factor (0.198 Pa–1). Moreover, the electrical resistance of the PAN/MOF@GO nanofibrous filter changed with different breathing patterns, indicating the possibility of using the developed nanofibrous filter for human respiration monitoring. This work provides new insights into the fabrication of nanofibrous filters with boosted performance for PM removal by the synergistic effect of GO and MOF particles.