Heavy metal determinations in outdoor atmospheric dust depositions

Abstract

Information on atmospheric dust deposition is important for various types of research, including urban runoff and air quality modelling, ecosystem nutrient cycling and epidemiological studies. This paper presents heavy metal profiles of outdoor dustfalls collected in buckets from six sites located in Adapazan, Turkey. Results showed that dry dustfall samples contain significantly higher concentrations of lead and cadmium in Yesiltepe area, although mean cadmium concentrations are close to the WHO limit in all areas studied. The mass deposition rate was calculated for each sampling plate over the 30-days collection periods. The deposition rates for the six places in Adapazari ranged from 20.5 to 84.9 mu g/cm(2)/day. The arithmetic mean deposition rate for all places was 45.3 4 mu g/cm(2)/day. Total dust deposition and elemental loadings typically increased in magnitude according to the area order Kampus > Serdivan > Cark Caddesi > Ozanlar > Erenler > Yesiltepe and Kampus > Cark Caddesi > Serdivan > Erenler > Ozanlar > Yesiltepe, respectively.