Variability of Airborne Dust Fallout and Associated Trace Metals around Industrial Sites in Esfahan, Iran

• Published in: Clean : soil, air, water Vol. 51; no. 1
• Main Authors: Moradi, Anahita, Honarjoo, Naser, Besalatpour, Ali Asghar
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Weinheim Wiley Subscription Services, Inc 01.01.2023
• Subjects: air pollution; Atmospheric particulates; Cadmium; Cluster analysis; Contamination; contamination factor; Distribution; Drought; Dust; Fallout; Heavy metals; High temperature; Industrial sites; industry; Iron and steel plants; Lead; Manganese; Metal concentrations; Metals; Pollutant load; Pollution; Pollution index; Pollution load; pollution load index; Seasons; Spatial distribution; Spatial variations; Steel; Steel industry; Trace elements; Trace metals; Iran
• ISSN: 1863-0650; 1863-0669
• DOI: 10.1002/clen.202200327

The seasonal and spatial variability of airborne dust deposits and associated trace metals such as Pb, Co, Ni, Cd, Mn in 15 sites surrounding a heavily industrialized region in south Esfahan (central Iran) are investigated. Total deposit rates (TDR) of dusts and trace metals are analyzed, contamination factor (CF) and pollution load index (PLI) are also calculated. Furthermore, correlation and cluster analysis are performed to identify the source of the pollution. The highest dust‐TDR (15.97 g m−2 per season), the highest concentration of trace metals, CF and PLI are recorded in summer because of the lack of precipitation, high temperature, and drought conditions in this season. Pb and Cd show the highest CF values. In the towns near the two major steel mills in the region (i.e., Esfahan Steel Company and Mobarekeh Steel Complex), the CF values for Pb and Cd are about 13 and 12, respectively (i.e., 13 and 12 times higher than the pre‐industrial values, respectively). The spatial distribution maps of the dust deposit rate, dust‐borne trace metals, and the obtained PLI of the trace metals in the study area reveal that the two major industries in the region are the main sources of dust and trace metal distribution. Airborne dust can be one of the human health hazards for people living around industrial regions. In this study, dust deposits are collected from areas around two steel plants (ESCO and MSC) in Iran and analyzed for trace metals. The results indicate that the two steel industries are the main sources of dust and trace metal distribution in the region.