Distribution of Heavy Metals and Other Components in the Various Size Fractions of House Dust

Abstract

-For the investigation of the distribution of heavy metals and other components in the various size fractions of house dust the dust sample was separated into size fractions by sieving and air classification. The analysis of the size fractions shows that the heavy metals and the other components are not uniformly distributed in the different size fractions. The highest total carbon (TC) concentrations were found in the size fractions with a mass median diameter of 18 to 95 µm, while in the coarser size fractions and in the finest size fraction the TC was lower. In contrast, for many heavy metals and other metals (e.g. Al, Fe, Mn, Ti, Ba, Sr, As, Cu, V) the maximum concentrations were found in the finest size fraction and with increasing size of the dust fractions the concentrations decreased. The distribution of Zn was different. In the four finest size fractions the concentration was nearly constant.