The correlations between heavy metals in residential indoor dust and outdoor street dust in Bahrain

Journal Article · Sat Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1994 · Environment International; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/0160-4120(94)90197-X· OSTI ID:6912523

Madany, I M ^[1]; Akhter, M S; Al Jowder, O A ^[2]

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1. Arabian Gulf Univ. (Bahrain)
2. Univ. of Bahrain (Bahrain)

The lead, zinc, cadmium, chromium, and nickel contents in both indoor house dust and outdoor street dust from 76 sites in Bahrain were determined by ICP-ES. The results showed widespread heavy metal contamination, especially lead, with an overall mean value in house dust for Pb, Zn, Cd, Cr, and Ni of 517, 202, 1.9, 11, and 10, respectively. The mean values in street dust were 742, 67, 1.5, 9.6, and 12 mg/kg, respectively. The major source of metals in street dust was automobile exhaust. The major source of heavy metals indoors was also from automobile dust, i.e., lead and nickel. With respect to zinc, cadmium, and chromium, indoor sources were more important than outdoor sources. The distribution of lead both indoors and outdoors in Bahrain showed high levels of contamination occurring generally in the north and northeastern part where traffic is concentrated. The levels of these toxic metals found in indoor house dust may be a significant source of exposure, especially for children.

• OSTI ID: 6912523
• Journal Information: Environment International; (United States), Journal Name: Environment International; (United States) Vol. 20:4; ISSN ENVIDV; ISSN 0160-4120
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
540120* -- Environment
Atmospheric-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (1990-)
AIR POLLUTION
ARAB COUNTRIES
ASIA
AUTOMOBILES
BAHRAIN
CADMIUM
CHROMIUM
DEVELOPING COUNTRIES
ECOLOGICAL CONCENTRATION
ELEMENTS
GASEOUS WASTES
INDOOR AIR POLLUTION
ISLANDS
LEAD
METALS
MIDDLE EAST
NICKEL
POLLUTION
TRANSITION ELEMENTS
VEHICLES
WASTES
ZINC