A preliminary study of heavy metals pollution in the sandy dust storms and its human risk assessment from middle and south of Iraq.

Sandy dust storms in Iraq represented a serious problem for human health, not only in Iraq but also extended to be in other countries. Therefore, this study has assessed five heavy metals (Cd, Ni, Zn, Pb, and Fe) in the sandy dust storms from ten locations in the middle and south of Iraq. Contamination levels in the dust were evaluated by using various pollution indices. Heavy metals recorded a high pollution load index (PLI) that considered as baseline pollution in the dust. The geo-accumulation index (Igeo) values were moderately contaminated for Cd, and Pb, in case of potential ecology risk ([Formula: see text]), was a considerable risk for Cd. Based on multivariate analysis which is performed by principal component analysis (PCA), correlation analysis (r2) and cluster analysis (CA) revealed that heavy metals in sandy dust storms were possible from anthropogenic activities. The Cd, Ni, Zn, and Fe were from the same pollution sources, while Pb element was from the different pollution sources. Therefore, this data will be useful as sources to the Quality Control Department in Iraq to establish perfect qualitative standards and also to acquire a better quality of the atmosphere in Iraq and the region.