Baseline metal-in-dust concentrations in Greater London

Baseline concentrations of cadmium, copper, iron, lead and zinc have been measured in samples collected from surfaces remote from local sources of pollution across Greater London. The geometric means of concentrations of metals in dusts are 2.7 μg/g Cd, 79 μg/g Cu, 23400 μg/g Fe, 370 μg/g Pb and 372 μg/g Zn. Concentrations of metals in dust have been shown to exhibit marked distributions across Greater London, and the survey has indicated the location of a number of areas of elevated metal-in-dust levels, for example the Lee Valley industrial area in north London, central London, and parts of east and west London. The concentrations found are compared with results reported in other studies, and the potential sources of metal contamination in the London area are discussed.