Heavy metal levels of outdoor dust from the Eastern Mediterranean Sea region and assessment of the ecological and health risk

As a result of some chemical element (heavy metals) pollution of dust, environmental pollution of dust has become an increasing concern, necessitating an assessment of risks to both ecology and human health, particularly in urban areas. Most of these pollutants settle on the outdoors and eventually become part of the outdoor dust. These will have negative long-term repercussions on ecosystems and human health. In this research, energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence (EDXRF) spectrometry analytical method was used to assess the pollution characteristics of the eight heavy metals (HMs): Mn, Cu, As, Hg, Ni, Cr, Zn, and Pb in the East Mediterranean Sea area. The concentration of As, Mn, Cr, Cu, Hg, Ni, Pb, and Zn analyzed in outdoor dust samples varied from 0.94 to 19.52 mg kg⁻¹, 190.08 to 1019.7 mg kg⁻¹, 20.46 to 45.9 mg kg⁻¹, 19.5 to 62.56 mg kg⁻¹, 0.01 to 0.93 mg kg⁻¹, 10.48 to 40.64 mg kg⁻¹, 12. 6 to 36.1 mg kg⁻¹, and 48.96 to 112.41mg kg⁻¹, respectively. HMs have been detected in the outdoor dust samples analyzed in the study, and, as a result, mean concentrations followed the order Mn > Zn > Cu > Cr > Ni > Pb > As > Hg, respectively. The ecological risk was observed at various contamination levels, with As and Hg pollution being the most severe. The highest hazard quotient (HQ) for adults and children was determined as a result of As and Cr, respectively. According to the US-EPA health risk threshold, the cancer risk in the study area is negligible. Graphical abstract: (Figure presented.)