Determination of heavy metal concentration (Pb, Cr and Cd) in Atmospheric particulate matter (Mashhad-Iran).

The present study determined the atmospheric concentration of lead (Pb), Cadmium (Cd) and chromium (Cr), in 5 different sampling sites (Up wind, downwind, residential and traffic stations) in Mashhad city, Iran. for this purpose The total suspended particulate matter filter were collected daily, once a week, and after digestion by using nitric acid, were by flam atomic absorption spectrophotometer (Perkin – Elmer AAnalyst 700). The total average concentrations (ng/m3) of Pb, Cr and Cd were 852.73, 1111.21 and 18.63 ng/m3, respectively. The mean concentration of Cr is the highest of the three metals tested in this study. Statistical analyses show a couple of significant correlations were observed between Cd and pb and Cd have significant correlated with wind speed (p= 0.046; p=0.002, respectively). The overall selected heavy metal concentrations in Mashhad are higher than those are reported in other cities of Iran

کلیدواژه ها:

Air pollution ، Total Suspended Particulate (TSP) ، Heavy metal ، Environment