JWSS - Journal of Water and Soil Science

Heavy metals in dust can directly enter to the human body through ingestion and inhalation. They can pollute the water and soil resources via atmospheric precipitation and accumulate in the plant tissues and then enter human body through water and food. This research aimed to study the heavy metals concentration in dust in Kermanshah province and to identify their sources. 49 samples of dust were collected in the cities of Kermanshah, Songhor, Gilangharb, Ghasre-Shirin, Sahneh, Sarpolzahab, Kangavar, Paveh and Javanrood during the spring 2013. The concentration of Zn, Cu, Ni, Cr, Mn and Fe were determined using an atomic absorption spectrometer following the sample extraction with a mixture of HCL and HNO₃ (3:1 ratio). The average concentrations of Zn, Cu, Ni, Cr, Mn and Fe were 182.3, 48.6, 115.3, 73.9, 428.1 and 23161 mg kg^-1, respectively. Correlation, cluster and principal component analyses were used to identify probable natural and anthropogenic sources of contaminants, and the enrichment factor was used to identify probable effects of human activity on the concentration of heavy metals. The results indicated that metal concentrations, except for Fe and Mn, were higher in comparison with the world soils. Zn, Cu, Ni and Cr are mainly of anthropogenic origin, while Fe and Mn are mainly of natural origin. Zn and Cu are mainly of traffic sources and partly of industrial sources, and Ni and Cr are mainly derived from industrial sources, combustion processes, combined with traffic sources. The analysis of EF revealed moderate enrichment for Mn and Cr, and significant enrichment for Zn, Cu and Ni. Based on the results of this study, more attention should be paid to identifying and controlling the sources of contaminants such as heavy metals in dust in order to prevent their associated pollution.