Abstract

Geochemical background data are used to distinguish between the sources of heavy metal (natural or anthropogenic) and to categorize the level of heavy metal pollution. In this study, we present the results of using different geochemical backgrounds (BG1–BG3) to establish the level of heavy metal pollution in street dust in Warsaw, Poland. We applied individual and collective indicators calculated with respect to the following backgrounds: (1) upper continental crust (UCC) (BG1), (2) the regional geochemical background established for Quaternary surface deposits of the Mazovian region (Poland) (parent geological material occurring in the studied area, Warsaw, Poland) (BG2), and (3) the minimal values of the concentration of heavy metals determined for the real street dust sample collectives from Warsaw (BG3). The assessment of the heavy metals pollution of street dust significantly depended on the background values used in the calculation of individual and collective indicators. Street dust was classified as unpolluted for almost all the heavy metals based on the values of indicators calculated for UCC data. The effect of traffic-related pollution was detected more precisely based on the values of indicators calculated for BG2 and BG3. The naturally elevated concentrations of heavy metals in UCC data can be responsible for the underestimation of pollution impact in street dust. When relatively low concentration of heavy metals is only observed, the application of BG2 or BG3 background data, which better correspond to the geogenic material in street dust, allows to realistically reflect the level of pollution from moving vehicles.

Graphic abstract

中文翻译：

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街道灰尘中的重金属浓度：使用不同地球化学背景数据估算重金属污染水平的意义

摘要

地球化学背景数据用于区分重金属的来源（天然或人为），并对重金属污染程度进行分类。在本研究中，我们展示了使用不同地球化学背景 (BG1-BG3) 确定波兰华沙街道灰尘中重金属污染水平的结果。我们应用了针对以下背景计算的单个和集体指标：（1）上陆壳（UCC）（BG1），（2）为马佐夫地区（波兰）第四纪地表沉积物建立的区域地球化学背景（母体地质材料）发生在研究区域，波兰华沙）（BG2），和（3）为华沙的真实街道灰尘样本集体确定的重金属浓度的最小值（BG3）。街道灰尘重金属污染的评估很大程度上取决于计算个体和集体指标时使用的背景值。根据为 UCC 数据计算的指标值，几乎所有重金属都将街道灰尘归类为未污染。根据 BG2 和 BG3 计算的指标值，可以更准确地检测交通污染的影响。UCC 数据中自然升高的重金属浓度可能是低估街道灰尘污染影响的原因。当仅观察到相对较低浓度的重金属时，应用 BG2 或 BG3 背景数据，更好地对应街道灰尘中的地质物质，可以真实地反映移动车辆的污染水平。

图形摘要