Atmospheric deposition of Pb, Zn, Cu, and Cd in Amman, Jordan

Atmospheric samples were collected using a low-volume air sampler and dustfall containers during the summer of 1995 at different sites in the city of Amman, Jordan. The heavy metal contents in settleable particles (dustfall) as well as in air particulates (suspended) were analyzed by graphite furnace atomic absorbation spectrophotometry. The atmospheric concentrations of Zn, Cu, Pb, and Cd were 344, 170, 291, and 3.8 ng/m3, respectively. The levels of these elements in the dustfall deposition were 505, 94, 74 and 3.1 $\mu g/g$, respectively. The fluxes and dry deposition velocities of these heavy metals were determined and compared with the findings of other investigtors worldwide. The enrichment coefficients of the heavy metals in the dustfall were found to be significant. The enrichment coefficients were 12.1, 6.1, 11.7, and 1.1 for Zn, Cu, Pb, and Cd, respectively.