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Trends of metals enrichment in deposited particulate matter at semi-arid area of Iran

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Abstract

The presence and enrichment of heavy metals in dust depositions have been recognized as an emerging environmental health issues in the urban and industrial areas. In this study, the deposition of some metals was found in Qom, a city located in a semi-desert area in Iran that is surrounded by industrial areas. Dust deposition samples were collected using five sampling stations during a year. Dust samples were digested applying acidic condition and then, the metal content was analyzed using inductively coupled plasma technology (ICP-OES). Comparative results showed the following order, from the maximum to the minimum concentration (mg/kg dust) of elements: Ca > Al > Fe > Mg > Ti > Si > K > B > Sr > Mn > P > Ba > Cr > Zn > Ni > Sn > Pb > V > Na > Cu > Co > U > Li > Ce > Ag. The differences among the average concentrations of metals in the five stations were not significant (p value > 0.05). The average concentration of some metals increased significantly during cold seasons. In this study, the cluster analysis (CA) and princicipal component analysis (PCA) were applied, and relationships among some elements in different clusters were found. In addition, the geo-accumulation and enrichment analysis revealed that the following metals had been enriched more than the average values: boron, silver, tin, uranium, lead, zinc, cobalt, chromium, lithium, nickel, strontium, and coper. The presence of thermal power plant, pesticide manufacturing plants, publishing centers, traffic jam, and some industrial areas around the city has resulted in the enrichment of some metals (particularly in cold seasons with atmospheric stable conditions) in dust deposition.

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Acknowledgments

We would like to thank the Medical Geology Department of Geological Survey of Iran for their collaboration. The authors also wish to express their deepest gratitude to Mr. M. Zohrab Baigy for his collaboration in editing an earlier draft of this article.

Funding

This study received financial and technical supports from the Institute for Environmental Research (IER) of Tehran University of Medical Sciences (grant number 92-01-46-20879) and Research Center for Environmental Pollutants, Qom University of Medical Sciences (grant number 91334).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Research Center for Environmental Pollutants, Qom University of Medical Sciences, Qom, Iran

    Reza Fouladi Fard

  2. Center for Air Pollution Research (CAPR), Institute for Environmental Research (IER), Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

    Kazem Naddafi & Mohammad Sadegh Hassanvand

  3. Department of Environmental Health Engineering, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

    Kazem Naddafi

  4. Department of Environmental Health Engineering, School of Public Health and Research Center for Health Sciences, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran

    Mohammad Khazaei

  5. Geological Survey of Iran, Medical Geology Department, Tehran, Iran

    Farah Rahmani

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  1. Reza Fouladi Fard
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  2. Kazem Naddafi
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  3. Mohammad Sadegh Hassanvand
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  4. Mohammad Khazaei
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  5. Farah Rahmani
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Correspondence to Kazem Naddafi.

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Responsible editor: Responsible editor:Gerhard Lammel

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Fouladi Fard, R., Naddafi, K., Hassanvand, M.S. et al. Trends of metals enrichment in deposited particulate matter at semi-arid area of Iran. Environ Sci Pollut Res 25, 18737–18751 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-018-2033-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-018-2033-z

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