ASSESSMENT OF HEAVY METAL CONTAMINATION ON STREET DUST AT NEW DAMIETTA CITY, EGYPT

01-12-2012 01:01

 Heavy metals in the street dust, such as Pb, Cu, Mn, Zn, Cd and Fe are significant factor for environmental pollution. The main objectives of this work are: (a) to identify the possible pollution sources of metals, (b) assess the heavy metal concentrations of street dust samples inNewDamiettaCity.An assessment of heavy metals in street dust particles from different localities was conducted at NewDamiettaCity. This assessment is based on measurement of heavy metal contents in dust particles. The relative abundance of the heavy metals followed the order: Fe >>Mn >> Zn >> Pb >> Cu >> Cd. Iron (Fe) had the highest average concentration in all locations. Range of heavy metal content were (17.49 - 87.77), (11.98 - 42.13), (0.75 - 3.97), (177 - 1209), (427 - 1514) and (3219 - 5110 µg/g dry street dust), for Pb, Cu, Cd, Zn, Mn and Fe, respectively. The industrial areas, automobiles station and market areas with high traffic densities had the highest heavy metal levels. It was concluded that the concerned locations are mainly influenced from three sources, namely industrial, traffic and natural sources.