title: Household dust metal levels in the Sydney metropolitan area.
abstract: Household dust was collected from 82 residential homes within the Sydney metropolitan area. The geometric mean concentrations of metals in the household dust were Cd, 1.9 microg/g; Cr, 64.3 microg/g; Cu, 103 microg/g; Fe, 2740 microg/g; Mn, 54 microg/g; Ni, 15.6 microg/g; Pb, 85.2 microg/g; and Zn, 437 microg/g. Differences in household income level, dwelling type, or the number of occupants were not statistically significant for the majority of metals. The exceptions were higher amounts of Zn (P=0.033) and Fe (P=0.047) found in households with only 1-2 residents compared to those with 3-4 or >4 residents, and slightly higher Mn levels (P=0.033) were found in low-income households (AUD 0-30,000 dollars/year). Region was highly significant for Pb levels in Sydney but not significant for other metals. Large variations in Pb levels were found in household dust (16-16,600 microg/g), with the inner-west region associated with significantly higher Pb levels (P<0.001). Comparisons with a study from a decade earlier have revealed that the household dust Pb levels have remained constant despite substantial improvements in air quality in the inner-west area of Sydney. New epidemiological studies are required to determine whether Pb blood levels have also remained unchanged and whether accumulated Pb in household dust represents a significant health risk to children in this region.
authors: Centre for Water and Waste Technology, School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales 2052, Australia.
authors: Gautam
authors: G
authors: Chattopadhyay
authors: Kevin Chi-Pei
authors: KC
authors: Lin
authors: Andrew J
authors: AJ
authors: Feitz
mesh_terms: D016902:Air Pollution, Indoor / Q000032:analysis*; D002947:Cities; D004391:Dust; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D006798:Housing; D006801:Humans; D019216:Metals, Heavy / Q000032:analysis*; D009517:New South Wales; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D004391:Dust; D019216:Metals, Heavy