%0 Journal Article
%T Chemical Composition, Characterization and Factors Affecting Household Dust (<20 µm) in Greater Cairo, Egypt
%A Salwa K. Hassan
%A Ahmed A. El-Abssawy
%A Mamdouh I. Khoder
%J Open Journal of Air Pollution
%P 184-197
%@ 2169-2661
%D 2015
%I Scientific Research Publishing
%R 10.4236/ojap.2015.44016
%X Adverse
health and environmental effects of household dust are derived from their
chemical composition and properties. In this study, household, stairs and
entryway dust (<20 ¦Ìm) samples from homes located in urban, residential and
residential near to industrial area in Greater Cairo during summer 2013 were
collected to study their chemical composition, characterization and factors
affecting them. Results indicate that the levels of measured anions and cations
were higher in the household compared to stairs and entryway dust. The highest
concentration of <img src=\"Edit_8c401caf-5789-4e65-b3f1-9747100f1e21.bmp\" alt=\"\" />&nbsp;<span>, <img src=\"Edit_98cfaeae-b3cc-4071-abbd-da21d0c803ef.bmp\" alt=\"\" />, Cl<span style=\"font-family:Verdana, Helvetica, Arial;white-space:normal;background-color:#FFFFFF;\"><sup>-&nbsp;</sup></span>,&nbsp;<img src=\"Edit_ce0b5af0-22b1-410e-b377-09996c2b936e.bmp\" alt=\"\" />, Na<sup>+</sup>, K<sup>+</sup>,
Ca<sup>2+</sup> and Mg<sup>2+</sup> in the household and entryway dust was
found in urban area. <img src=\"Edit_dce1101e-f07b-4962-b190-a595b21154f0.bmp\" alt=\"\" /> was abundant in household, entryway and stairs
dust followed by Cl<sup><span style=\"font-family:Verdana, Helvetica, Arial;line-height:15px;white-space:normal;background-color:#FFFFFF;\">-</span></sup> and <img src=\"Edit_7ad6e741-ae49-4673-a3aa-5504d2247e1b.bmp\" alt=\"\" />. Its average
concentrations were 21.38, 14.57 and 15.83 mg/g, respectively. The
household/entryway (I/O) concentration ratios of measured ion components indicate
that these species might derive from indoor sources, although outdoor sources
could be present as well. pH values of household, stairs and entryway dust
ranged from 6.43 to 8.53, indicating that these dusts brought a large amount of
crustal species, and might alleviate the tendency of acidification. The
relationships between the concentrations of acidic components (<img src=\"Edit_f3ed9037-1f50-4565-96d0-eae0eb806a2d.bmp\" alt=\"\" /> and <img src=\"Edit_50c39f54-e10e-44c6-aac1-b25d30d7bf8a.bmp\" alt=\"\" />) and basic
components (<img src=\"Edit_e8a1d7a6-e7bc-4e38-9555-020856b7f558.bmp\" alt=\"\" />, Ca<sup>2+</sup> and
Mg<sup>2+</sup>) in household, stairs and entryway dust confirm that the
acidity of dust is neutralized. Ca<sup>2+</sup> and <img src=\"Edit_280c1119-30d4-4582-a8e6-9d6f840fc27e.bmp\" alt=\"\" /> in household and stairs dust and Ca<sup>2+</sup></span><span> and Mg<sup>2</sup></span><sup><span>+</span></sup><span> in entryway dust are the most dominant
neutralization substances.</span>
%K Household
%K Stairs and Entryway Dust
%K Chemical Composition and Characterization
%K Greater Cairo
%K Egypt
%U http://www.scirp.org/journal/PaperInformation.aspx?PaperID=61766