Heavy metal determination of house dust in Adapazari, Turkey, after earthquake

Abstract

The present paper reports on heavy metal pollution in house dust samples collected after the 1999 Turkish earthquake. A total of 80 samples were collected in predetermined houses and control samples collected from non-effected areas throughout Adapazari, Turkey, after the earthquake (August 17, 1999) and analyzed for Pb, Cd, Cr, Cu, Zn and Ni using the flame atomic absorption spectrophotometric method after wet digestion. The sampling sites were divided into 8 categories, including the control site. Concentration of heavy metals in such house dusts are extremely variable. Dust levels were observed to increase a lot after earthquake because of the reconstruction of city roads, sewage and water pipes, demolishing of damaged buildings, etc. Thus, the results showed that the mean levels of Pb, Cd, Cr, Cu, Zn and Ni in houses on the streets with heavy traffic increased.