A comprehensive analysis of heavy metals in urban road dust of Xi'an, China: Contamination, source apportionment and spatial distribution

A detailed investigation was conducted to study heavy metal contamination in road dust from four regions of Xi'an, Northwest China. The concentrations of eight heavy metals Co, Cr, Cu, Mn, Ni, Pb, Zn and V were determined by X-Ray Fluorescence. The mean concentrations of these elements were: 30.9mgkg−1 Co, 145.0mgkg−1 Cr, 54.7mgkg−1 Cu, 510.5mgkg−1 Mn, 30.8mgkg−1 Ni, 124.5mgkg−1 Pb, 69.6mgkg−1 V and 268.6mgkg−1 Zn. There was significant enrichment of Pb, Zn, Co, Cu and Cr based on geo-accumulation index value. Multivariate statistical analysis showed that levels of Cu, Pb, Zn, Co and Cr were controlled by anthropogenic activities, while levels of Mn, Ni and V were associated with natural sources. Principle component analysis and multiple linear regression were applied to determine the source apportionment. The results showed that traffic was the main source with a percent contribution of 53.4%. Natural sources contributed 26.5%, and other anthropogenic pollution sources contributed 20.1%. Clear heavy metal pollution hotspots were identified by GIS mapping. The location of point pollution sources and prevailing wind direction were found to be important factors in the spatial distribution of heavy metals. [Display omitted] •Source apportionment of heavy metals was conducted by PCA-MLR model.•Heavy metal pollution hotspots were presented by Kriging interpolation method.•Traffic source contributed 53.4% of heavy metals in road dusts of Xi'an city.•Point pollution sources and prevailing wind affected heavy metals distribution.