Concentrations and sources of cadmium, copper, lead and zinc in house dust in Christchurch, New Zealand.

The amounts (microgram m-2) and concentrations (microgram g-1) of cadmium, copper, lead and zinc have been measured in house dust in Christchurch, New Zealand. For 120 houses surveyed the geometric mean concentrations of the four metals are 4.24 micrograms g-1, 165 micrograms g-1, 573 micrograms g-1 and 10,400 micrograms g-1, respectively. In addition eleven variables, such as house age, carpet wear and traffic density, were recorded for each property and the results analysed with respect to their effects on the amounts and concentrations of the four elements. The amounts of all the metals were highly correlated with the overall dustiness of the houses, which was found to be predominantly determined by the degree of carpet wear. No one dominant source of cadmium was identified, although several minor sources including carpet wear, galvanized iron roofs and red/orange/yellow coloured carpets were implicated. Petrol lead and lead-based paints were identified as significant sources of lead in house dust. Rubber carpet underlays or backings were identified as a significant source of zinc, with some contribution from galvanized iron roofs. Road traffic and probably the existence of a fire place appear to contribute to the copper levels.

[1]  B. Brunekreef,et al.  Blood lead levels of Dutch city children and their relationship to lead in the environment. , 1983, Journal of the Air Pollution Control Association.

[2]  R. Barnes.  Childhood soil ingestion: how much dirt do kids eat? , 1990, Analytical Chemistry.

[3]  M. J. Quinn,et al.  Wind dispersal of metals from smelter waste tips and their contribution to environmental contamination. , 1987, Environmental science & technology.

[4]  R. Solomon,et al.  Lead and cadmium in dusts and soils in a small urban community. , 1976, Environmental science & technology.

[5]  M. Duggan.  Contribution of lead in dust to children's blood lead. , 1983, Environmental health perspectives.

[6]  M S McIntire,et al.  Omaha childhood blood lead and environmental lead: a linear total exposure model. , 1984, Environmental research.

[7]  I. Thornton.  Metal content of soils and dusts , 1988 .

[8]  E. Charney,et al.  Increased lead absorption in inner city children: where does the lead come from? , 1980, Pediatrics.

[9]  I. Thornton,et al.  Metals in urban dusts and soils , 1985 .

[10]  Jack E. Fergusson,et al.  The elemental composition and sources of house dust and street dust , 1986 .

[11]  J. Fergusson.  Lead: petrol lead in the environment and its contribution to human blood lead levels. , 1986, The Science of the total environment.

[12]  N D Kim,et al.  Trace elements in street and house dusts: sources and speciation. , 1991, The Science of the total environment.

[13]  L. Friberg,et al.  Cadmium in the environment , 1971 .

[14]  G. Dunteman.  Principal Components Analysis , 1989 .

[15]  M J Duggan,et al.  Lead-in-dust in city streets. , 1977, The Science of the total environment.

[16]  R. Harrison.  Toxic metals in street and household dusts. , 1979, The Science of the total environment.

[17]  J. Sayre,et al.  Household surface lead dust: its accumulation in vacant homes. , 1979, Environmental health perspectives.

[18]  J. Fergusson.  The significance of the variability in analytical results for lead, copper, nickel, and zinc in street dust , 1987 .

[19]  T. Yong,et al.  HEAVY METAL POLLUTION BY TRAFFIC IN CHRISTCHURCH, NEW ZEALAND: LEAD AND CADMIUM CONTENT OF DUST, SOIL, AND PLANT SAMPLES , 1980 .

[20]  J. Fergusson,et al.  Lead in house dust of Christchurch, New Zealand: sampling, levels and sources. , 1985, The Science of the total environment.