Analysis of Selected Heavy Metals in Indoor Dust in Khorramabad City, Iran: A Case Study

Abstract

Background: Indoor dust as a significant source of pollution in the urban environment can cause serious ecological and health problems. Therefore, thecurrentstudyhasbeenconductedtodeterminetheCadmium,Chromium,Lead,andNickelcontamination in house dust in the city of Khorramabad in 2017. Methods: A total of 80 samples of indoor dust were collected from 20 regions of the study area. After sample digestion, the content of metals was determined using the inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectrometer (ICP-OES). Results: Based on the results, the average contents of Cd, Cr, Pb, and Ni (mg/kg) in the analyzed dust samples were 11.34 ± 2.25, 11.81 ± 5.29, 32.08 ± 20.60, and 60.19 ± 17.90, respectively. Also, comparison of the element levels in the house dust samples with the maximum permissible concentrations (MPC) established by environmental protection agency (EPA) shows that the average levels of Cd and Ni were higher than the MPC. Conclusions: Due to average contents of elements in the dust samples, especially Cd and Ni, were higher than the MPC; the indoor dust can cause adverse effects onhuman health. Therefore, control of the anthropogenic sources that cause discharge of hazardous compounds, particularly toxic heavy metals into the outdoor, indoor, and street dust, is recommended.