Magnetic characteristics of street dust from the Chibi city, Hubei Province, China: Its implications for urban environment

Abstract

Results of magnetic and heavy metal analysis of street dust samples in four sections from the Chibin city, Hubei Province, China are presented. There are distinct differences between them for magnetism and heavy metal contents, and corresponding to contamination background. Average values of natural remanent magnetization (NRM), low frequency susceptibility (klf), high-frequency susceptibility (khf), saturation isothermal remanent magnetization (SIRM) and anhysteretic remanent magnetization (ARM), Yanhe road (A section) is highest, Lushuihu Landscape region (D) is lowest and similar with middle intensity between Hebei road (B) and Chibi road (C) (Table 1). Magnetic characteristics of dusts are agreed with distribution of contaminated sources, high magnetism is corresponding to heavy contaminated areas. Integrated magnetic parameters, heavy metal analysis and environmental background infer that contamination materials in street dusts mainly are composed on traffic and cement plant for A section and B, C sections located on center and northern in city, so, contamination sources main are from coal combustion, high-density traffic and human active.