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Elemental Contamination in Indoor Floor Dust and Its Correlation with PAHs, Fungi, and Gram+/− Bacteria

Author

Listed:
  • Sharif Arar

    (Department of Chemistry, School of Science, University of Jordan, Amman 11942, Jordan)

  • Afnan Al-Hunaiti

    (Department of Chemistry, School of Science, University of Jordan, Amman 11942, Jordan)

  • Mohanad H. Masad

    (Water, Environment and Arid Region Research Center (WEARRC), Al al-Bayt University, Al-Mafraq 25113, Jordan)

  • Androniki Maragkidou

    (Finnish Meteorological Institute, Atmospheric Dispersion Modelling, P.O. Box 503, FI-00101 Helsinki, Finland)

  • Darren Wraith

    (School of Public Health and Social Work, Queensland University of Technology, Queensland 4000, Australia)

  • Tareq Hussein

    (Department of Physics, The University of Jordan, Amman 11942, Jordan
    Institute for Atmospheric and Earth System Research (INAR), University of Helsinki, PL 64, FI-00014 Helsinki UHEL, Finland)

Abstract

In this study, we performed elemental analysis for floor dust samples collected in Jordanian microenvironments (dwellings and educational building). We performed intercorrelation and cluster analysis between the elemental, polyaromatic hydrocarbon (PAH), and microorganism concentrations. In general, the educational building workshops had the highest elemental contamination. The age of the dwelling and its occupancy played a role on the elemental contamination level: older and more occupied dwellingshad greater contamination. The elemental contamination at a dwelling entrance was observed to be higher than in the living room. We found exceptionally high concentrations for Fe and Mn in the educational workshop and additionally, Hg, Cr, and Pb concentrations exceeded the limits set by the Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment. According to the cluster analysis, we found three major groups based on location and contamination. According to the enrichment factor ( EF ) assessment, Al, Co, Mn, Ti, and Ba had EF < 2 (i.e., minimal enrichment) whereas P, S, Pb, Sb, Mo, Zn, Hg, and Cu had EF > 40 (i.e., extremely enriched). In contrast, Ca and P were geogenically enriched. Furthermore, significant Spearman correlations indicated nine subgroups of elemental contamination combined with PAHs and microbes.

Suggested Citation

  • Sharif Arar & Afnan Al-Hunaiti & Mohanad H. Masad & Androniki Maragkidou & Darren Wraith & Tareq Hussein, 2019. "Elemental Contamination in Indoor Floor Dust and Its Correlation with PAHs, Fungi, and Gram+/− Bacteria," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(19), pages 1-15, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:16:y:2019:i:19:p:3552-:d:269716
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Bassam Tawabini & Mubarak Al-Enazi & Mansour A. Alghamdi & Ashraf Farahat & Ahsan M. Shemsi & Marwan Y. Al Sharif & Mamdouh I. Khoder, 2023. "Potentially Harmful Elements Associated with Dust of Mosques: Pollution Status, Sources, and Human Health Risks," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(3), pages 1-30, February.
    2. Felica R. Davis & Hanan H. Ali & Jason A. Rosenzweig & Daniel Vrinceanu & Balaji Bhaskar Maruthi Sridhar, 2021. "Characterization of Chemical and Bacterial Concentrations in Floor Dust Samples in Southeast Texas Households," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(23), pages 1-17, November.

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