TY - JOUR T1 - Health Risks and Contamination Levels of Heavy Metals in Dusts from Parks and Squares of an Industrial City in Semi-Arid Area of China. AU - Han,Xiufeng, AU - Lu,Xinwei, AU - ,, AU - Wu,Yongfu, Y1 - 2017/08/07/ PY - 2017/07/26/received PY - 2017/08/04/revised PY - 2017/08/05/accepted PY - 2017/8/8/entrez PY - 2017/8/8/pubmed PY - 2018/1/4/medline KW - Baotou city KW - contamination level KW - dust KW - health risk assessment KW - heavy metal JF - International journal of environmental research and public health JO - Int J Environ Res Public Health VL - 14 IS - 8 N2 - The contamination characteristics and health risk of barium (Ba), cobalt (Co), chromium (Cr), copper (Cu), manganese (Mn), nickel (Ni), lead (Pb), vanadium (V), zinc (Zn), arsenic (As), mercury (Hg), and cadmium (Cd) in samples of dust gathered from squares and parks of Baotou city, an industrial city situated in a semi-arid location of the northwest China were investigated. The contents of Ba, Co, Cr, Cu, Mn, Ni, V, Pb, and Zn in the collected dust samples were determined using X-ray fluorescence spectrometry, while the contents of As and Hg in the dust were investigated by use of the ICP-MS. Further, cadmium was quantified through the atomic absorption spectrometry. Levels of contamination of heavy metals analyzed in the dust samples were evaluated using the Geo-Accumulation index (Igeo) as well as through a Pollution Load Index (PLI). Their health risks to children and adults were evaluated based on the US EPA model of health risk. The findings portrayed that the mean concentrations of Ba, Co Cr, Cu, Pb, V, Cd, and Hg were elevated as compared with their local soil background values. Mean values of Igeo illustrate the order of Co > Cr> Cd > Hg > Pb > Cu > Ba > V > Ni > Mn > Zn > As. It was evident that dusts from the parks and squares were "unpolluted" to "moderately polluted". Assessment of health risk depicts that ingestion is the foremost route of exposure in regard to the heavy metals, then the dermal adsorption follows. Hg exposure from dust might also set impending health threats to children. Besides, the cancer risks of Co, Cr, Ni, Cd, and As are considered to be within the presently tolerable range. SN - 1660-4601 UR - https://www.unboundmedicine.com/medline/citation/28783109/Health_Risks_and_Contamination_Levels_of_Heavy_Metals_in_Dusts_from_Parks_and_Squares_of_an_Industrial_City_in_Semi_Arid_Area_of_China_ L2 - https://www.mdpi.com/resolver?pii=ijerph14080886 DB - PRIME DP - Unbound Medicine ER -