Assessment of short-term changes in street dust pollution with heavy metals in Lublin (E Poland)—levels, sources and risks

Street dust forms as a result of the interaction of the atmosphere, lithosphere (pedosphere) and anthroposphere and can be regarded as an index of the condition of the environment in urban areas. At the end of the twentieth century, there was a significant decrease in heavy metal emissions in Europe, but not so intensive in Poland. The question arises: Is the intensity of pollution still decreasing? The study objective was to assess changes in street dust pollution with heavy metals in Lublin (E Poland) in the years 2013 and 2018. The sample collection sites (68) were located within streets with a varying intensity of motor traffic. Cd, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb and Zn concentrations were determined in two dust fractions, 63–200 μm and < 63 μm, by means of an X-ray fluorescence spectrometer. The levels of street dust pollution with heavy metals, expressed both in absolute concentrations and geochemical indices, were lower in 2018 than those in 2013. The clearest decrease of concentration levels occurred within the main roads, in the 63–200 μm fraction for Cu and Cd, and in both fractions for Pb. The mean concentrations of the investigated metals, normalised to the background values, are in the following order for both fractions in 2013 and 2018: Zn > Cd > Cu > Cr > Pb > Ni. Metals form the following order for I(geo) and EF: Zn > Cd > Cu > Pb > Cr > Ni. This order is slightly different for the ecological risk factor: Cd > Cu > Pb > Zn > Cr > Ni. In general, street dust in Lublin does not show contamination with Cr, Ni and Pb. I(geo) and EF indices show moderate levels of pollution with Cu, Cd and Zn.