Characteristics and Health Risk Assessment of Mercury Exposure via Indoor and Outdoor Household Dust in Three Iranian Cities

This study aims to increase our current knowledge on the concentration of particulate-bound mercury (PBM) in urban environments three Iranian cities, where high concentrations dust particles can act as carriers for transport and deposition. A total 172 samples were collected from Ahvaz, Asaluyeh, Zabol residential houses outdoor air analyzed content. Ahvaz is a highly industrialized city with large metallurgical plants, refineries, major oil-related activities, which assumed contribute elevated contents PBM this city. Very levels Hg contamination indoor calculated (Contamination Factor: CF > 6). Sampling sites Asaluyeh are influenced by emissions South Pars Gas Field. However, results revealed relatively lower low-to-moderate level contamination. likely ascribed content hydrocarbon gases than crude oil, addition absence metal smelting plants compared Ahvaz. Zabol, devoid industrial activity, presented lowest Indoor showed considerable potential cause non-carcinogenic health risk children, mainly through inhalation PBM, while other cities was below safe limits. The trend found order children adults all studied cities.