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The pollution and potential ecological risk assessment of the heavy metals in household dusts from mineral areas |
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Abstract Household dust is important exposure routs of heavy metals for human health. In the present study, Cd, Cr, Pb, As and Hg in 102 household dusts from three villages around the mineral areas, Southwest of China were analyzed and assessed the potential ecological risk. The results indicated that the concentrations of heavy metals in household dusts from three villages were w(Pb)>w(Cr)>w(Cd)>w(As)>w(Hg). Cd, Cr, Pb, As and Hg in household dusts accumulated in different degree. Cumulative coefficients of Cd, Pb and Hg in the household dusts were higher than those of Cr and As. Cd had the highest cumulative coefficient of 226.30, followed by Pb and Hg. The cumulative coefficients of Cr and As were less than 1. Correlation analysis indicated that significant correlation among Cd, Cr, Pb, As and Hg has been found in household dusts of village A and village B, respectively. However, there was no significant correlation among the heavy metals in household dusts of village C. According to principal component analysis, Cd, Pb and Hg contamination mainly from outdoor, including the metal smelting and mining as well as vehicle exhaust gas emissions, waste and so on. The potential ecological risk index indicated that comprehensive potential ecological hazards of heavy metals in household dusts of village A, B and C had reached a very strong level.
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Received: 28 August 2014
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