Levels, Risk and Sources of Heavy Metals in Road Dust from University Campus - A Case Study of Xichang, Southwest China

Abstract

As the place where students live for the longest time, the levels, sources and health risks of heavy metals in road dust from university campuses have not been widely studied. In the present study, 41 road dust samples were collected and analyzed by ICP-MS for Zn, V, Pb, Cr, Ni and Cu. The isotopic composition of Pb was analyzed by MC-ICP MS. These heavy metals were specifically analyzed using enrichment factor, geoaccumulation index, principal component analysis, iso-sources model and health risk assessment model. Zn and Pb pollution levels were high in road dust, and they were defined as moderate enrichment and contaminated. The sources of Pb in road dust from university campus were traffic exhaust, steel smelting, soil, and fly ash, accounting for 59.4%, 23.2%, 12.2%, and 5.2%, respectively. The non-carcinogenic risk of female and male university students is safe, but the carcinogenic risk of Cr needs to be concerned by the authorities.