Determination of Aerosol Metals Pollutants in Falling Dust in Benghazi City, Libya

Abstract

The aim of this study is to determine the levels of concentrations of selected heavy metals of aerosol metals contamination in falling dust at different roadsides in Benghazi city. In order to do that, measuring the concentrations of the selected aerosol metals by using vacuum pump and measured using atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS) technique. Six composite samples were collected along roadsides and each sample was represented average of five samples which collected from that particular area. The concentrations of aerosol metals of each site were based on density of traffic road and type of industrial activities, also to the number of population. Each measured sample was replicated three times to obtain representative and accurate values. Also, a statistical analysis including mean and standard deviation were carried out. Correlation coefficient of calibration curves of measured aerosol metals was shown a good response, where the R2 value was ranged between 0.994 to 0.999. The range of concentrations of the studied aerosol metals were varied as following: Cobalt (90-344 mg/kg), iron (120-383 mg/kg), lead (153-740 mg/kg), zinc (78-468.7 mg/kg), copper (80-180 mg/kg), selenium (40-133 mg/kg), cadmium (90344 mg/kg), potassium (318-2932 mg/kg), sodium (587.5-3006 mg/kg), calcium (286.6-1185.7 mg/kg) and magnesium (65-325.8 mg/kg). A significant positive correlation was shown between each pairs of measured elements Pb/Zn, Pb/Co, Pb/Cu, Pb/Se, Zn/Co and Zn/Cu.