Assessment of lead, zinc, copper, nickel and chromium in total suspended particulate matter from the workplace in Al-Rusayl Industrial Estate, Oman

Abstract

Total suspended particulates (TSP) were collected with a high volume sampler from the indoor work environment of 23 industries in Al-Rusayl Industrial Estate in Muscat, Oman. The values measured ranged from 39 µg m⁻³ to 1033 µg m⁻³. TSP in the ambient air of the area was found to have an average value of 1802 µg m⁻³. TSP were analyzed for Pb, Cu, Ni, Zn and Cr. Compared to other metals, Pb emission was high with values ranging from 3 to 15 109 ng m⁻³ with the mean value being 1 293 ng m⁻³; Cu concentration varied from 3 to 2 600 ng m⁻³ with a mean value of 131 ng m⁻³; Ni concentration ranged from 6 to 46 ng m⁻³ with a mean value of 17 ng m⁻³; Cr concentration ranged from 1 to 133 ng m⁻³ with a mean value of 23 ng m⁻³ while that of Zn varied from 0.01 to 1 978 ng m⁻³ with the mean value being 464 ng m⁻³. The concentrations of Pb, Ni, Cu, Cr, and Zn in the ambient air were also measured and found to have the following values: 122, 18, 16, 5 and 0.01 ng m⁻³, respectively. These values indicate that the industries in the area do not contribute significantly to heavy metal air pollution.