Analysis of geochemical features of sabzevar dust, using Marble Dust Collector (MDCO)

Dust is one of the atmospheric phenomena that has adverse environmental effects and consequences. In order to study dusts in Sabzevar, samples were collected at the end of each season in 2011. In this research, sampling containers were installed in 16 locations on the roofs of houses and governmental offices based on the main and sub- geographical directions and trapped samples in MDCO were measured by 0.0001 accuracy scale. For geochemical studies, due to the volume of dust collected and the importance of the samples, basic oxides and trace elements of fine dust were measured using atomic absorption and ICP methods. Results showed that the maximum dust volume were collected in the spring while the concentration of most polluting elements is higher in autumn. In terms of pollution, cadmium and zinc are of primary importance in sabzevar due to their very high pollution coefficient. Chromium and nickle are of secondary importance with the range of moderate pollution and significant pollution coefficient. In the current situation, the pollution of elements such as copper, lead and arsenic in the dust of Sabzevar is not critical and worrying.