Lead in PM₁₀ and in Indoor Dust Around Schools and Preschools in Selangor, Malaysia

Abstract

A study of possible exposure to indoor lead by school and preschool children was conducted around Selangor, Malaysia. For collecting suspended particulates less than 10 micrometer in diameter (PM10) inside and outside the school and preschool buildings, a low-volume sampler was used. For collecting dust in the indoor environments, small brushes and Kimwipes were used. Lead in PM10 and in dust was determined using an atomic absorption spectrophotometer with a graphite furnace. The average lead concentrations in PM10 in the indoor environment were found to be higher in schools (118.85 ± 86.08 ng•m-3) than in preschools (6.97 ± 0.30 ng·m-3). Higher concentrations of lead in the indoor dust in school environments (ranging between 19.10 ±1.55 and 31.62 ± 0.98 μg·g-1) compared to lead in the indoor dust in preschool environments (ranged between 0.37 ± 0.01 and 2.74 ± 0.04 μg·g-1) suggest that indoor sources, particularly paint on indoor walls, are also capable of generating lead in indoor environments. Furthermore, in all indoor environments, the levels of lead in PM10 increased with rising levels of lead in their associated outdoor environments, thus suggesting that the local outdoor environments also add lead to the indoor environments.