Assessment of heavy metals in total suspended particles and deposited dust in different areas in Assiut city, Egypt

Abstract

Abstract Heavy metals are major environmental pollutants due to their carcinogenic and toxic properties. This study investigates the levels of heavy metals different heavy metals in deposited dust and total suspended particles (TSP) in Assiut City and evaluates their potential health risks. The TSP and deposited dust samples were collected from six sites chosen based on their anthropogenic activities. The levels of the heavy metals in the collected samples were determined by an Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectrometer. During the seasons of the year, the average TSP concentrations in the most polluted location reached 1605 µg/m3, exceeding the air quality limits (230 µg/m3). Also, the most polluted locations went beyond the threshold value limit (TVL = 18 g/m2.month) in deposited dust rates. The average concentrations of heavy metals at selected sites ranged from 0.006 to 0.826 µg/m3 in TSP, and ranged from 6.302 to 64.65 µg/g in settled dust. These values were greater than those reported in comparable investigations conducted in other countries. By conducting a preliminary health risk assessment to the chronic exposure of the reported heavy metals concentrations, it was percussive that 20,000 cases per million are expected to get cancer because of the high-risk value of Chromium in the study area. The high Hazard Quotient values (ranging from 4 to 8) in this study suggest multi-organ toxicity, particularly to the nervous, reproductive, and respiratory systems. As a result, air quality management and the implementation of targeted policies within a risk management plan are necessary to lower the concentration of various heavy metals in the environment of this society.