Composition of As, Cd & Pb in indoor dust from selected location in UiTM Pahang / Nuraisyah Nazmi

Most people spend most of their time doing indoor activities. Unknowingly, high concentration of indoor air pollutants might affect the occupant's health. The aim of the study are to determine concentration level of selected heavy metals in indoor dust samples collected from selected locations in UiTM Pahang and to identify the possible sources of selected heavy metals in indoor dust samples whether it is natural or anthropogenic sources. The dust samples was collected in classroom at Block Cendana (C1-03), Makmal Kimia 1 (MK1) and Hostel room in Kolej Mat Kilau based on the frequency of the room to be occupied by the occupants. The selected heavy metals studied are arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd) and lead (Pb). The samples were analyzed by using PerkinElmer Graphite Furnace Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy (GF-AAS). The highest concentration of heavy metals is Pb with (17.80 ± 11.10 µgg-l), followed by As (2.72 ± 1.50 µgg-l) but no detection value for Cd due to lack of many factors. The overall concentration of heavy metal were found to be arranged in order Pb>As>Cd. Using the enrichment factor (EF) analysis, the result showed that the heavy metal determined in indoor dust were contributed by a natural (soil) sources. The accumulation of these heavy metals in indoor dust may be influenced by the road dust as well as the occupant's activities.