Tian Xiangwei, Yang Qingqing, Zhao Yuqian, Cao Dandan, Liu Yanwei, Guo Yingying, Cui Wenbin, Hu Ligang, Yin Yongguang, Cai Yong, Jiang Guibin
Laboratory of Environmental Nanotechnology and Health Effect, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China.
State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China.
Environ Sci Technol. 2024 Dec 31;58(52):23212-23221. doi: 10.1021/acs.est.4c11896. Epub 2024 Dec 18.
Dust released from widely established plastic sports courts and synthetic turf poses potential environmental and health risks. Herein, we systematically investigate the metal(loid) characteristics, potential sources, and health risks of 162 dust samples from 17 campuses in Beijing, using complementary analytical techniques. Bulk analysis revealed higher levels of Zn, Pb, Cu, Sb, Cd, and Cr than background values, suggesting excessive anthropogenic contamination. Pb and Cr in plastic basketball court and track dust and Zn and Sb in synthetic turf dust were higher than those in other sports facilities. Multielement single-particle inductively coupled plasma time-of-flight mass spectrometry (spICP-TOF-MS) revealed more Fe-, Al-, Si-, Ti-, and Pb-containing particles in the dust. At least 92% toxic Pb-containing particles were composed of multiple elements. The significant correlations between Pb and Cr contents on individual dust particles support their common potential source from inorganic pigments (crocoite, PbCrO). Pb, Sb, As, and Cr in the dust pose higher health risks through intake. The risks were estimated to be approximately 3-5 times higher for children than for adults. Additionally, highly toxic Cr(VI) and As(III) species were observed in the sweat and gastric juice leachate of dust, highlighting severe threats of the metal(loid)s to human health.