Study on Heavy Metals Content (Fe, Pb and Cd) in Atmospheric Precipitation Collected from the High Traffic Intensity Regions of City of Hamedan

Air pollution is one of the most important environmental problems which can lead to the human health effects especially in the metropolitans. Atmospheric precipitation including rain and snow are the most effective way for removing pollutant from the atmosphere and its heavy metals can describe the variability of the environmental pollution in different urban areas. Therefore, this study was conducted to assess the metal (Fe, Pb and Cd) concentrations in the atmospheric precipitation collected from high traffic intensity areas of city of Hamedan in 2014.

A total of 24 snow samples were collected from 8 selected stations located in different regions of city of Hamedan with high traffic intensity. The samples were stored in polyethylene bottles and were acidified at a pH lower than 2 by adding concentrated HNO3 in order to avoid metal adsorption onto the inner bottle walls. Element (Fe, Pb and Cd) concentrations were determined using ICP-OES. All statistical analyses were done by SPSS software.

The results showed that the mean concentrations (µg/L) of Fe, Pb and Cd in snow samples were 69.5 ± 143, 10.2 ± 8.94 and 17.6 ± 0.290, respectively. Also, the mean concentrations of Cd were significantly higher than maximum permissible limits established by WHO.

The results indicate that rainfall collected from the high traffic intensity regions of city of Hamedan is polluted with Cd due to the high traffic volumes and their emitted pollutions, therefore, for maintaining of surface and groundwater resources and also public health consider the suitable strategies is recommended.