Determination of heavy metal concentration (Pb, Cr and Cd) in Atmospheric particulate matter (Mashhad-Iran).

The present study determined the atmospheric concentration of lead (Pb), Cadmium (Cd) and chromium (Cr), in 5 different sampling sites (Up wind, downwind, residential and traffic stations) in Mashhad city, Iran. for this purpose The total suspended particulate matter filter were collected daily, once a week, and after digestion by using nitric acid, were by flam atomic absorption spectrophotometer (Perkin – Elmer AAnalyst 700). The total average concentrations (ng/m3) of Pb, Cr and Cd were 852.73, 1111.21 and 18.63 ng/m3, respectively. The mean concentration of Cr is the highest of the three metals tested in this study. Statistical analyses show a couple of significant correlations were observed between Cd and pb and Cd have significant correlated with wind speed (p= 0.046; p=0.002, respectively). The overall selected heavy metal concentrations in Mashhad are higher than those are reported in other cities of Iran

Determination of heavy metal concentration (Pb, Cr and Cd) in Atmospheric particulate matter (Mashhad-Iran). Keywords:

Air pollution , Total Suspended Particulate (TSP) , Heavy metal , Environment