Metals in urban dusts and soils

Abstract

Abstract A national survey of households in each of 53 representative United Kingdom towns and city boroughs confirms elevated concentrations of lead, cadmium, copper and zinc in urban dusts and soils compared with agricultural soils. Floordusts are enriched relative to soils in each metal, on average, by factors ranging from 1.5 to 6. In 10% of homes tested (total sample number n=5228), floordusts contain in excess of 2000ug g‐1 lead. Lead in housedusts is significantly related to that in garden soil, and is highest in older homes.