Trace elements in street and house dusts: sources and speciation

Abstract

The sources and speciation of trace elements in street and house dusts are reviewed. Soil is a major component of both dusts, but a number of elements are enriched in both materials. These include Pb, Zn, Cu, Cd, As, Sb, Cr, Ca, Na, Au, Cl and Br. They arise from a number of contributing and polluting sources. In the case of house dust, some elements, such as Cu, Co, As, Sb, Zn, Cd, Au, Cl, C and Pb, are produced in the house. There are a number of problems associated with the determination of the speciation of trace elements in dusts. These include the low concentrations of many of the elements, and the interpretation of the results from selective sequential extractions. The mobility and potential availability of the trace elements from dust lies in the order Cd > Zn, Pb > Mn, Cu > Fe.