Heavy metal contamination in dust from kindergartens and elementary schools in Xi’an, China

Abstract

Concentrations of As, Ba, Co, Cr, Cu, Mn, Ni, Pb, V, and Zn in campus dust from kindergartens and elementary schools in Xi’an, China, were analyzed using X-ray fluorescence spectrometry and heavy metal contamination levels were assessed based on the geoaccumulation index (I geo), enrichment factor (EF) and numero synthesis pollution index (NSPI). The results indicate that, in comparison with Shaanxi soil, dust samples have elevated metal concentrations as a whole, except for V, Mn, Ni, and As. The assessment results of I geo and EF indicate that V, Mn, Ni, and As in campus dust are uncontaminated, while Ba and Cr are uncontaminated to moderately contaminated, and Co, Cu, Pb, and Zn are moderately to strongly contaminated. The NSPI results show that most dust samples presented heavily contaminated by heavy metals. More attention should be paid to heavy metal contamination of campus dust from kindergartens and elementary schools of Xi’an.