Total and Extractable Heavy Metals in Indoor, Outdoor and Street Dust from Aswan City, Egypt

The level of heavy metal contamination in indoor room dust is evaluated and its relationship to the external environment examined. Samples of outdoor fallen dust, indoor room dust and street dust were collected from two different environmental locations in Aswan city, Egypt. Total and extractable (soluble) concentrations of cadmium, lead, iron, and manganese were determined in the three types of dust samples. The measurements of the metal contents were preformed using atomic absorption spectroscopy. The aims of this study are: (a) to assess the influence of urban traffic on the heavy metal content in house and street dust, and (b) to determine and compare the soluble fractions of the metals in indoor house dust, outdoor fallen dust and street dust. The results showed widespread heavy metal contamination, especially Pb, Mn, and Fe, which were present as the highest values in the outdoor fallen dust, indoor and street dust, while Cd was the lowest content metal present. In general, indoor and outdoor concentration ratios varied widely from one metal to another and from one residence to another. An enrichment factor for metal explained the originality of these metals. Traffic near the two studied buildings reflects the presence of Pb in outdoor fallen dust, indoor room dust and street dust in those residences. Soluble fractions of the studied heavy metals seem to be at the lower values compared to total metal concentration present.