Research in urban geochemistry has been expanding globally in recent years, following the trend of the ever-increasing human population living in cities. Environmental problems caused by non-degradable pollutants such as metals and metalloids are of particular interest considering the potential to affect the health of current and future urban residents. In comparison with the extensive global research on urban geochemistry, Iranian cities have not received sufficient study. However, rapid and often uncontrolled urban expansion in Iran over recent years has contributed to an increasing number of studies concerning contamination of urban soil and dust. The present work is based on a comprehensive nationwide evaluation and intercomparison of published quantitative datasets to determine the contamination levels of Iranian cities with respect to potentially toxic elements (PTEs) and assess health risks for urban population. Calculation of geoaccumulation, pollution, and integrated pollution indices facilitated the identification of the elements of most concern in the cities, while both carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic risks have been assessed using a widely accepted health-risk model. The analysis of secondary, literature data revealed a trend of contamination, particularly in old and industrial cities with some alarming levels of health risks. Among the elements of concern, As, Cd, Cu, and Pb were found to be most enriched in soils and dusts of the studied cities based on the calculated geochemical indices. The necessity of designing strategic plans to mitigate possible adverse effects of elevated PTE concentrations in urban environments is emphasized considering the role of long-term exposure in the occurrence of chronic carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic health problems.

近年来，随着城市人口不断增加，城市地球化学研究在全球范围内不断扩大。考虑到影响当前和未来城市居民健康的潜力，由金属和准金属等不可降解污染物引起的环境问题尤其令人感兴趣。与全球对城市地球化学的广泛研究相比，伊朗城市还没有得到足够的研究。然而，近年来伊朗快速且往往不受控制的城市扩张促成了越来越多关于城市土壤和灰尘污染的研究。目前的工作基于对已发布的定量数据集进行的全国性综合评估和比对，以确定伊朗城市在潜在有毒元素 (PTE) 方面的污染水平，并评估城市人口的健康风险。地球累积、污染和综合污染指数的计算有助于确定城市中最受关注的要素，而致癌和非致癌风险均已使用广泛接受的健康风险模型进行了评估。对二手文献数据的分析揭示了一种污染趋势，特别是在健康风险达到惊人水平的老旧工业城市。在关注的元素中，As、Cd、Cu、根据计算的地球化学指标，发现研究城市的土壤和灰尘中富含铅。考虑到长期暴露在慢性致癌和非致癌健康问题发生中的作用，强调了设计战略计划以减轻城市环境中 PTE 浓度升高可能产生的不利影响的必要性。