Measuring the concentration of Suspended Particulate Matter and some heavy metals in air of two areas of Rusafa in Baghdad

Abstract

This study aimed to detect the present levels and distribution of air pollutants such as SPM, Pb, Cr, Cd , and Ni , in two urban sites within Al- Rusafa side in Baghdad city (Al-Waziriya as industrial site and Al-Andalus square as commercial site). Measurements were carried out from November 2013 until June 2014. SPM, Pb, Cr, Cd , and Ni were measured using Air intake device(Sniffer) . The average minimum concentrations of SPM, Pb, Cr, Cd , and Ni were 588 μg/m3, 2.8 μg/m3, 15.6 μg/m3, 0.1 μg/m3, and 6.3 μg/m3. While the average maximum concentrations were 723 μg/m3 , 3.4 μg/m3 , 21.7 μg/m3 , 0.125 μg/m3 , and 6.8 μg/m3 , respectively. The results indicate that commercial site was more polluted with SPM , Pb , and Ni compared to the industrial site, while Cr and Cd concentrations were high in industrial site .