title: Spatial distribution of dust-bound trace elements in Pakistan and their implications for human exposure.
abstract: This study aims to assess the spatial patterns of selected dust-borne trace elements alongside the river Indus Pakistan, their relation with anthropogenic and natural sources, and the potential risk posed to human health. The studied elements were found in descending concentrations: Mn, Zn, Pb, Cu, Ni, Cr, Co, and Cd. The Index of Geo-accumulation indicated that pollution of trace metals were higher in lower Indus plains than on mountain areas. In general, the toxic elements Cr, Mn, Co and Ni exhibited altitudinal trends (P < 0.05). The few exceptions to this trend were the higher values for all studied elements from the northern wet mountainous zone (low lying Himalaya). Spatial PCA/FA highlighted that the sources of different trace elements were zone specific, thus pointing to both geological influences and anthropogenic activities. The Hazard Index for Co and for Mn in children exceeded the value of 1 only in the riverine delta zone and in the southern low lying zone, whereas the Hazard Index for Pb was above the bench mark for both children and adults (with few exceptions) in all regions, thus indicating potential non-carcinogenic health risks. These results will contribute towards the environmental management of trace metal(s) with potential risk for human health throughout Pakistan.
authors.affiliation: Key Lab of Urban Environment and Health, Institute of Urban Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xiamen, 361021, PR China; Public Health and Environment Division, Department of Biosciences, COMSAT Institute of Information & Technology, Islamabad, Pakistan. Electronic address: ali_ebl2@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Syed Ali Musstjab Akber Shah
authors.initials: SAMAS
authors.lastname: Eqani
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental Sciences, Islamic International University, Islamabad, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Ayesha
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kanwal
authors.affiliation: Institute for Environmental Sciences, University of Koblenz-Landau, Fortstrasse 7, 76829, Landau in der Pfalz, Germany.
authors.forename: Avit Kumar
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Bhowmik
authors.affiliation: Public Health and Environment Division, Department of Biosciences, COMSAT Institute of Information & Technology, Islamabad, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Mohammad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sohail
authors.affiliation: Department of Zoology, Mirpur University of Science and Technology, Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Rizwan
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ullah
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental Sciences, Islamic International University, Islamabad, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Syeda Maria
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Ali
authors.affiliation: Key Lab of Urban Environment and Health, Institute of Urban Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xiamen, 361021, PR China.
authors.forename: Ambreen
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Alamdar
authors.affiliation: Center of Excellence in Environmental Studies, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Nadeem
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ali
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento Scienze della Terra e dell'Ambiente, Università, Via Ferrata 9, I-27100, Pavia, Italy.
authors.forename: Mauro
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fasola
authors.affiliation: Key Lab of Urban Environment and Health, Institute of Urban Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xiamen, 361021, PR China.
authors.forename: Heqing
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Shen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D004391:Dust / Q000032:analysis*; D017753:Ecosystem; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods*; D004787:Environmental Pollution; D006801:Humans; D019216:Metals, Heavy / Q000737:chemistry*; D010154:Pakistan; D018570:Risk Assessment; D045483:Rivers; D014131:Trace Elements / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D004391:Dust; D019216:Metals, Heavy; D014131:Trace Elements
keywords: Dust; Pakistan; Risk estimation; Spatial distribution; Trace elements