HEAVY METALS POLLUTION AND HEALTH RISK ASSESSMENT OF ATMOSPHERIC DUST OF LESS THAN 100 [mu]m ALONG A TYPICAL INDUSTRIAL CORRIDOR, CENTRAL CHINA

Twenty nine of atmospheric dust samples at a height of 1.2-1.5 m were collected along a typical industrial corridor, central China during May, 2012. Total concentrations (As, Cr, Mn, Ni, Co, Cu, Zn, Pb and Fe) in less than 100 [mu]m particles of the samples were determined by X-ray fluorescence spectrometry. The average concentration of As, Cr, Mn, Ni, Co, Cu, Zn, Pb and Fe in the samples was 283.66, 218.78, 1040.33, 75.70, 18.18, 1485.54, 10133.13, 445.28 mg/kg, and 6.67%, respectively. The higher concentrations were located at Huangshi City, and Cr, Ni, Mn, Co and Fe were all high in the study area. Geo-accumulation index indicated contamination of Cu, Zn and Pb were more serious than other elements in atmospheric dust by the industrial activities. Pearson's correlation analysis, enrichment factor analysis and PCA comprehensively indicated that the major contribution of heavy metals pollution in the study area were Pb, As, Cu and Co, which showed significant correlation between each other. Health risk assessment showed that there was no cancer risk for metals pollution, but As and Pb harming to people health with non - cancer risk, especially for children. And the major harm method for human health was through ingestion.