Investigation of heavy metal levels in street dust samples in Tokat, Turkey

The concentrations of heavy metals in the street dust samples collected from Tokat, Turkey have been determined using flame atomic absorption spectrometry after wet and microwave digestion. Good accuracy was assured by the analysis of standard reference material. Recoveries were nearly quantitative for all elements studied (≥95%). The mean concentration levels of Pb, Ni, Cd, Zn, Mn, Cu, Co, and Cr were found to be 149, 65, 3.0, 63, 285, 29, 20, and 30 μg/g, respectively. The concentrations of heavy metals in the samples vary depending on the traffic density.