Heavy metal concentrations and contamination levels from Asian dust and identification of sources: A case-study

Pyeong Koo Lee, Seung Jun Youm, Ho Young Jo

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

    74 Citations (Scopus)

    Abstract

    The aims of this study were to determine concentrations of selected metals (As, Cd, Cr, Co, Cu, Ni, Sb, Pb and Zn) in Asian and non-Asian dust collected in Daejeon, Korea between February 2007 and December 2007 and to estimate the pollution sources. The geoaccumulation index (Igeo) and the enrichment factor (EF) show that the pollution levels of Cd, Pb, Zn, Sb, Cu, and As are much higher than those of Cr, Co and Ni. As, Cd, Cu, Sb, Pb, and Zn are the ones most strongly affected by anthropogenic inputs such as airborne pollutants. The 206Pb/207Pb ratios of Asian and non-Asian dust are similar to those of the airborne particles in some heavily industrialized Chinese cities and the soils of the Alashan desert. To address the highly elevated levels of heavy metals found in Asian and non-Asian dust, studies should be performed to assess the potential impacts of settled particles on surface ecosystems, water resources, and human health in Korea.

    Original languageEnglish
    Pages (from-to)1018-1025
    Number of pages8
    JournalChemosphere
    Volume91
    Issue number7
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - 2013

    Bibliographical note

    Funding Information:
    This research was supported by a grant (NEMA-06-NH-08) from the Natural Hazard Mitigation Research Group, National Emergency Management Agency. We also acknowledge the reviewers and editor for their constructive and thoughtful comments on the manuscript.

    Copyright:
    Copyright 2020 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.

    Keywords

    • Asian dust
    • Contamination
    • Heavy metals
    • Pb isotope

    ASJC Scopus subject areas

    • Environmental Engineering
    • Environmental Chemistry
    • General Chemistry
    • Pollution
    • Health, Toxicology and Mutagenesis

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