Geochemical Mapping, Risk Assessment, and Source Identification of Heavy Metals in Road Dust Using Positive Matrix Factorization (PMF)

Heavy metals in road dust pose a significant threat to human health. This study investigated the concentrations, patterns, and sources of eight hazardous heavy (Cr, Ni, Cu, Zn, As, Cd, Pb, Hg) street Zhengzhou city PR China. Fifty-eight samples were analyzed based on three methods risk assessment, i.e., Geo-Accumulation Index (Igeo), Potential Ecological Risk Assessment (RI), Nemerow Synthetic Pollution (PIN). The results exhibited higher concentrations Hg Cd 14 7 times than their background values, respectively. Igeo showed risks contamination range unpolluted Ni) strongly polluted (Hg Cd) categories. RI came up with ranges from low Pb) extreme (Cd contamination. PIN was safe (Cu, seriously high Hg). yielded by indicated city. Positive Matrix Factorization used identify Factor 1 (vehicular exhaust), 2 (coal combustion), 3 (metal industry), 4 (anthropogenic activities), respectively, contributed 14.63%, 35.34%, 36.14%, 13.87% total metal pollution. Metal’s presence is direct health for humans warrants immediate effective pollution control prevention measures