An assessment of heavy metals in dust at recreational parks in Trinidad, West Indies: contamination status, source identification and health risk implications

This study examined the contamination levels, origin specifications and potential health risk assessments of selected heavy metals (Cd, Cr, Cu, Mn, Ni, Pb and Zn) in road dusts from recreational parks throughout the island of Trinidad. Heavy metal concentrations were determined by Flame Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy (FAAS) and ranged from 0.33–2.30 µg/g, 2.15–23.33 µg/g, 12.73–103.12 µg/g, 46.37–419.37 µg/g, 8.61–30.00 µg/g, 13.38–323.87 µg/g and 78.20–669.19 µg/g for Cd, Cr, Cu, Mn, Ni, Pb and Zn, respectively. Indices such as geoaccumulation index, contamination factor and enrichment factor, applied to explore pollution patterns, indicated several degrees of pollution with the most prevalent polluting metals being Pb, Cu and Zn. Hazard index values were < 1 for all metals in the road dust indicating no significant risk from non-carcinogenic effect, while there were no significant cancer risks (< 10–6) for both children and adults.