Tracing of Heavy Metals Embedded in Indoor Dust Particles from the Industrial City of Asaluyeh, South of Iran

Abstract

Assessment of indoor air quality is especially important, since people spend substantial amounts of time indoors, either at home or at work. This study analyzes concentrations of selected heavy metals in 40 indoor dust samples obtained from houses in the highly-industrialized Asaluyeh city, south Iran in spring and summer seasons (20 samples each). Furthermore, the health risk due to exposure to indoor air pollution is investigated for both children and adults, in a city with several oil refineries and petrochemical industries. The chemical analysis revealed that in both seasons the concentrations of heavy metals followed the order of Cr > Ni > Pb > As > Co > Cd. A significant difference was observed in the concentrations of potential toxic elements (PTEs) such as Cr, As and Ni, since the mean (±stdev) summer levels were at 60.2 ± 9.1 mg kg−1, 5.6 ± 2.7 mg kg−1 and 16.4 ± 1.9 mg kg−1, respectively, while the concentrations were significantly lower in spring (17.6 ± 9.7 mg kg−1, 3.0 ± 1.7 mg kg−1 and 13.5 ± 2.4 mg kg−1 for Cr, As and Ni, respectively). Although the hazard index (HI) values, which denote the possibility of non-carcinogenic risk due to exposure to household heavy metals, were generally low for both children and adults (HI < 1), the carcinogenic risks of arsenic and chromium were found to be above the safe limit of 1 × 10−4 for children through the ingestion pathway, indicating a high cancer risk due to household dust in Asaluyeh, especially in summer.

Distribution of Minor and Major Metallic Elements in Residential Indoor Dust: A Case Study in Latvia

“…A standardized indoor dust collection method [ 36 , 37 ] is not always available. In order to cover a sufficient number of indoor areas, studies have used the following indoor dust collection techniques most frequently: Filters from heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems [ 20 , 38 ]; Dust collection from the dust bags of domestic vacuum cleaners and electrical brooms [ 6 , 8 , 23 , 31 , 32 , 33 , 34 , 39 , 40 ]; Usage of high-volume small-surface vacuum samplers, mini-volume samplers and fine particulate dust samplers [ 7 , 12 , 21 , 41 ]; Settled dust collection with wet wipes [ 42 ]; Dust collection by gently sweeping with a brush and plastic spatula [ 9 ], soft paintbrush [ 5 ] and fingers [ 43 ]. …”

“…Dust collection from the dust bags of domestic vacuum cleaners and electrical brooms [ 6 , 8 , 23 , 31 , 32 , 33 , 34 , 39 , 40 ];…”

Heavy Metal Pollution and Risk Assessment of Surface Dust in the Arid NW China

“…With the second-largest gas reserves in the world, Asaluyeh has the largest oil and gas reserves in Iran. Its petrochemicals contribute significantly to high Hg levels in USD [ 136 , 137 ]. In the study area, heating is facilitated by coal combustion for up to 6 months per year, which is an important reason for the gradual accumulation of Hg in the urban environment.…”

Health and environmental risk assessment of mercury in outdoor and indoor dust in artisanal and small-scale gold mining area in Amansie-west district in the Ashanti Region of Ghana

“…Dust is a heterogenous mixture of organic and inorganic particles which can absorb heavy metals including mercury (Cheng et al, 2018). Adults spend about 88% while children spend 71-79% of their time indoor (Tashakor et al, 2022). Mercury elevation in indoor dust depends on outdoor dust and human activities indoor.…”