Abstract
A total of 106 street and household dusts have been sampled throughout Bahrain and analyzed for Pb, Zn, Cd, Ni and Cr using the atomic absorption spectrophotometric method. The sampling sites were divided into seven categories, including the control site. Results showed that dust samples contained significant levels of the metals studied compared with the control values. The mean values for Pb, Zn, Cd, Ni and Cr in street dust were 697.2, 151.8, 72.0, 125.6 and 144.4 μg g−1 respectively, whereas for household dust they were 360.0, 64.4, 37.0, 110.2 and 144.7 μg g−1. These values suggest that motor vehicles form a major source of these metals in dust samples. The values of heavy metals in dust samples in this study were compared with values found in other investigations in various countries. With respect to Ni, elevated concentration could be attributed to smoke from the burning of Kuwait oil fields. Also correlations between metal levels in dust samples for all the metals were investigated. Our results show that heavy metal levels in various sites in Bahrain are similar, which indicate that Bahrain can be considered as one big urban center with high population and traffic density.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Ali, E. A. and Nasarulla, M. M.: 1985, Heavy metals in the Environment, Int. Conf. Athens, T. D. Lekkas (ed). CEP Consultants, Edinburgh 2, pp. 559–561.
Arkadani, A. F.: 1984, Ecotoxicology and Environment Safety, 8, 152.
Bloom, H. and Ayling, C. M.: 1977, Environ. Geol. 2, 3.
Bornschien, R. L., Succop, P. A., Klrafft, K. M., Clark, C. S., Peace, B., and Hammond, P. B.: 1986, Health 20, 322.
Chan, H. H. and Chu, S. S.: 1984, J. Chin. Agric. Chem. Soc. 22.
Culbard, E. B. and Johnson, L. R.: 1984, Health 18, 311.
Davis, B., Elwood, P. C., Gallacher, J., and Ginnever, R. C.: 1985, Environ. Pollut. 139, 255.
Davis, D. J. A., Watt, J. M., and Thornton, I.: 1987, Sci. Total Environ. 67, 177.
Day, J. P., Hart, M., and Robinson, M. S.: 1975, Nature 253, 343.
Dong, A., Chesters, G., and Simsiman, G. V.: 1984, Water, Air, and Soil Pollut. 22, 257
Duggan, M. J.: 1985, Public Health Rev. 13, 1.
Farmer, J. G. and Lyon, T. D. B.: 1977, Sci. Total Environ. 8, 89.
Fergusson, J. E.: 1987, Can. J. Chem. 65, 1002.
Fergusson, J. E. and Kim, N. D.: 1991, Sci.Total Environ. 100, 125.
Fergusson, J. E., Forbes, E. A., Schroeder, R. J., and Ryan, D. E.: 1986, Sci. Total Environ. 50, 217.
Fergusson, J. E. and Ryan, D. E.: 1984, Sci. Total Environ. 34, 101.
Fergusson, J. E. and Simmonds, P. R.: 1983, N. Z. J. Sci. 26, 219.
Harrison, R. M., Laxen, D. P. H., and Wilson, S. J.: 1981, Environ. Sci. Technol. 15, 1378.
Harrison, R. M.: 1979, Sci.Total Environ. 11, 89.
Hewitt, C. N. and Candy, G. B. B.: 1990, Environ. Pollut. 63, 129.
Hopke, R. K., Lamb, R. E., and Watusch, D. F. S.: 1980, Environ. Sci. Technol. 14, 164.
Kazeemi, A.: 1989, Form. Stadts-Hygiene 40, 153.
Keizer, M. G., Hooghiemstra-Tielbeek, M., and Deltann, F. A. M.: 1982, Neth. J. Agric. Sci. 29, 227.
Kim, N. D. and Fergusson, J. E.: 1988, Proc. New-Zealand Trace Elem. Gp. Conf., R. G. McLaren, R. J. Haynes and G. P. Savage (eds.), 193–200.
Klein, H. D.: 1972, Environ. Sci. Technol. 6, 560.
Lagerwerff, J. V. and Specht, A. W.: 1970, Environ. Sci. Technol. 4, 583.
Lau, W. M. and Wong, H. M.: 1982, Environ. Res. 28, 39.
Laxen, D. P. H., Lindsay, F., Raab, G. M., Hunter, R., Fell, G. S. and Fulton, M.: 1987, Lead in the Home Environment, I. Thornton and E. Culbard, (eds.), Science Reviews Ltd. Northwood, England, pp. 113–125.
Madany, I. M., Ali, S. M., Akhter, M. S., and Zainal, J. M.: 1986, J. Shoreline Management 2, 35.
Madany, I. M. and Danish, S.: 1988, Environ. Intl. 14, 49.
Madany, I. M., Ali, S. M., and Akhter, M. S.: 1987, Environ. Intl. 13, 331.
Madany, I. M., Ali, S. M., and Akhter, M. S.: 1990, Environ. Intl. 16, 123.
Malik, S. R., Atari, N. A., and Al-Mishwat, A. T.: 1985, Water, Air and Soil Pollut. 25, 15.
Nasarulla, M. M.: 1984, Environ. Pollut. (Series B) 8, 133.
Ndiokwere, C. L.: 1984, Environ. Pollut. (Series B) 7, 35.
Onayri, J. M., Wandiga, S. O., Njenga, G. K., and Nyatebe, J. O.: 1991, Bull. Environ. Contam. Toxicol. 46, 782.
Page, A. L. and Ganje, T. J.: 1970, Environ. Sci. Technol. 4, 140.
Ramlan, M. N. and Badri, M. A.: 1989, Environ. Technol. Lett. 10, 435.
Reeves, R., Kjellstrom, Dallow, M., and Mullins, P.: 1982, N. J. Z. Sci. 25, 221.
Sayre, J. W. and Katzel, M. D.: 1979, Environ. Health Perspect. 29, 179.
Schwar, M. J. R. and Alexander, D. J.: 1988, Sci. Total Environ. 68, 45.
Schwar, M. J. R., Moorcroft, J. S., Laxen, D. P. H., Thompson, M., and Armorgie, C.: 1988, Sci. Total Environ. 68, 25.
Shaheen, D. G.: 1975, Environ. Prot. Agency Report, EPA 600-75-004.
Solomon, R. L. and Hartford, J. W.: 1976, Environ. Sci. Technol. 10, 773.
Statistical Abstracts: 1990, State of Bahrain, Council of Ministries, Central Statistics Organization, AlIthad Publishers, Bahrain, p.48.
Ward, N. I., Brooks, R. R., and Roberts, E.: 1977, Environ. Sci. Technol. 11, 917.
Yassoglou, N., Kosmas, C., Asimakopoulos, J., and Kallianou, C.: 1987, Environ. Pollut. 47, 293.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Salim Akhter, M., Madany, I.M. Heavy metals in street and house dust in Bahrain. Water Air Soil Pollut 66, 111–119 (1993). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00477063
Received:
Revised:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00477063