A survey of metal levels in street dusts in an inner London neighbourhood

Leharne, Stephen, Charlesworth, David and Chowdhry, Babur (1992) A survey of metal levels in street dusts in an inner London neighbourhood. Environment International: A Journal of Environmental Science, Risk & Health, 18 (3). pp. 263-270. ISSN 0160-4120

Abstract

Dust samples were collected from various roads situated in the Globetown Neighbourhood area of East London. The samples were analyzed for lead, copper, nickel, manganese, iron, and aluminium by flame atomic absorption spectroscopy. The results indicate that lead levels in roads designated as busy are significantly greater than residential roads. The highest lead levels, though, were found in the vicinity of a car repair workshop. Iron levels in the vicinity of scrap metal yards are significantly higher than levels in residential roads. Aluminium levels, a putative indicator of crustal contributions to dustmetal burdens, are significantly greater in residential roads and in the vicinity of scrap metal yards compared to busy roads. Manganese, nickel, and copper in dustlevels are evenly dispersed throughout the area. Finally, the results indicate that possible ‘hot spots’ exist which have dusts containing excessively high levels of particular metallic elements.

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