Distribution, pollution status and environmental risk assessment of potential toxic elements in outdoor dust of Kerman City

Kerman city is located in 57º to 57º 7׳ eastern longitude and 13º 14׳ to 13º 19׳ northern latitude in the dusty belt of earth. So, dusts are considered as one of the environmental problems in this city. The present study investigates the concentration, contamination level, Source, and potential ecological risk of potentially toxic elements (PTEs) in outdoors dust of Kerman city. Among the elements, Zn in outdoors of northern part and Cu in outdoors of western part of the city showed the highest concentrations. According to the geoaccumulation index (Igeo), Pb in outdoors of eastern part, Cu in outdoors of western part and Zn in outdoors of northern part of the city indicated heavy pollution.The very high enrichment coefficient is related to Cu element in outdoors of the eastern region. Also, Cu in outdoors of northern part, As in outdoors of eastern part and Zn in outdoors of the most parts of the city showed significant enrichment. Cu, Pb and Cd are elements that pose environmental risk at some regions. However, western part of the city demonstrated high environmental risk. Based on the results, the higher concentration of Pb in outdoors of eastern part of the city may be related to the population density and heavy traffic. Also, the higher values of the other elements in outdoors of western and southern parts of the city are attributed to industrial sources.