The effect of human activities in the configuration and quality of street dust components in Baghdad city (Case study in Al-Zafaraniya area).

The current study was conducted in Al-Zafaraniya area, southeast of Baghdad, on the Al-Rusafa side, and is one of the largest residential sectors within Baghdad, with a population of about 650,000 and characterized by deferent activities. Four sampling sites were selected, and codes A, B, C, and D were given to represent site-1 industrial activity sites, site-2 service workshops, site-3 commercial activity, and site-4 residential areas, respectively. Street dust particles samples were collected using wooden tools and paper bags, three points were selected from each site, the samples were mixed, and 1 kg was taken to separate and analyze molecules, nature forms, composition, and interaction between their sources. The results of mechanical separation by vibrating soil sieve showed that these remaining consist of several sizes and weight categories resulting from the following form (greater than 2000, 2000, 1000, 500, 250, 150, and less than 53) μm and (108.90, 118.63, 219.88, 191.93, 32.16, 247.58, 3.96) g/kg, respectively. Laboratory tests using polarized microscope technology showed that dust particle components varied from artificial, organic, inorganic, minerals, synthetics substances, and biological residents. When examining the forms of its, they appeared to be different shapes as well as stellar, needles and serrated shapes, sharp angles, and irregular edges, as well as the usual spherical and smooth-edged soil particles. When comparing the values of the 7th category, which constitutes the danger reservoir between the street dust particles because it can turn into suspended and accumulated dust, we find that its values (A 4.8, B 2.86, C 1.2, and D 7.0g/kg) hence find that, the highest value (7.0 g) was recorded in the residential site-D, and this gives an indication that the wastes of other sites move to the residential sites and accumulate in them in large quantities, which exposes the public health and components of the ecosystem to many risks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]