Environmental assessment of heavy metal content based on household dust in the Anuradhapura city area of Sri Lanka Sansfica. M. Young1*, K. R. L. L. Kuruppu1, H. Ishiga2 Department of Physical Sciences, Faculty of Applied Sciences, Rajarata University of Sri Lanka, Mihinthale,1 Department of Geosciences, Shimane University, 690-8504, Matsue, Japan 2 e-mail:
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City based household dust is an indicator of pollution and an important environmental medium that affects human health. In this study, the levels of several heavy metals and other major elements in household dust in Anuradhapura city of Sri Lanka was analyzed for the first time to interpret the possible sources and the factors controlling the chemical characteristics of household dust. Thirty (30) dust samples were collected from households categorized as urban (n=10), suburban (n=10) and rural (n=10) and samples were analyzed using X-Ray Florescence (XRF) analysis for 22 elements. The average concentrations of As, Pb, Zn, Cu, Ni and Cr, were found to be 5.0, 54.7, 166.1, 53.7, 23.0 and 92.3 ppm respectively. Two samples each for Urban and sub urban show very high values for As and Pb, indicating very high pollution in Urban as well as even in the rural areas. Pb, Zn and Cu are anomalously high in some samples and may be spots in the area that relates to anthropogenic activities. Especially , Pb is related to emission. Zn and Cu are considerably correlated. Ni and Cr average values suggest no significant industry in the area. Cl and TS may be waste of organic matter from domestic, and F - occurs commonly in samples suggesting that it is remaining in the dust without dissolution. This phenomenon is a key of F- contamination in ground water. Soil samples sometimes show no detection of F - as for previous studies, which suggests that it has escaped into water. Arsenic in many samples still is in l ower level to Upper Continental Crust (UCC). Data are greatly suggestive of development of the town eve n i n rural areas of the city with high vehicle exhausts, oil lubricants, automobile parts, corrosion of bui l ding materials and atmospheric deposition. Keywords: Dust, Household, Pollution, Anuradhapura, City
