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This research investigates toxic element contamination in urban dust from bus stops and parking lots.

July 8, 2026Open Access

Potentially Toxic Element Contamination of Dust from Bus Stops and Parking Lots in a Developing City, East China: Levels, Spatial Distribution, Source Analysis and Risk Evaluation

PLPing LiuShandong University CSChangqing ShanShandong University XQXingchao QiShandong University

Key Points

This research investigates toxic element contamination in urban dust from bus stops and parking lots.
Dust samples collected from bus stops and parking lots in Binzhou City, China.
Quantitative analysis of eight potentially toxic elements (PTEs) including As, Zn, Pb, Cu, Cd, Cr, Ni, and Mn.
Principal component analysis used to identify sources of contamination.
Zn, Pb, Cu, Cd, and Cr exceeded local soil background values in dust samples.
Hazard index values were lower than 1 for all PTEs, indicating no significant non-carcinogenic health risk.
Carcinogenic risk values for Cr, Cd, and Ni via inhalation exposure were below 1 × 10−6, indicating no carcinogenic risk.

Abstract

Surface dust samples were collected from bus stops and parking lots in different functional areas of Binzhou City, Shandong Province, China. This study investigated the contamination characteristics, source apportionment, and potential ecological and health risks of potentially toxic elements (PTEs) in these dust samples. Eight target PTEs, including As, Zn, Pb, Cu, Cd, Cr, Ni, and Mn, were quantitatively analyzed. The results revealed distinct concentration differences in these elements between bus stop dust and parking lot dust. Several PTEs exceeded the corresponding local soil background values, predominantly Zn, Pb, Cu, Cd and Cr. Principal component analysis (PCA) indicated that Zn, Pb, Cu, Cr, Ni, and Mn in bus stop dust were mainly sourced from traffic emissions, whereas As and Cd primarily originated from atmospheric deposition. For parking lot dust, Zn, Pb, Cu, Cd, Cr, and Mn were predominantly attributed to traffic sources, while As and Ni were mainly derived from natural background sources. The geo-accumulation index (Igeo) demonstrated that As, Cr, Ni, and Mn had negligible environmental impact, Pb, Cu, and Cd induced slight pollution, and Zn resulted in moderate pollution. Except for Cd, the average individual potential ecological risk index (Eri) values for all elements were below 40, suggesting a low ecological risk. Cd posed a moderate ecological hazard, whereas the comprehensive ecological risk index (Eri) values of all analyzed elements were at an extremely low level. The hazard index (HI) values via different exposure pathways and for all PTEs in both bus stops and parking lots were lower than 1, indicating no significant non-carcinogenic health risk. The carcinogenic risk ranking of elements was Cr > Cd > Ni > As, and their carcinogenic risk values (CR) via inhalation exposure were below 1 × 10−6, indicating no carcinogenic risk. This study provides a scientific basis for the environmental quality control and risk management of surface dust in urban bus stops and parking lots.

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