Speciation analysis of inorganic As and Sb in urban dust using slurry sampling and detection by fast sequential hydride generation atomic absorption spectrometry

In this work, a methodology for chemical speciation analysis of inorganic As and Sb in urban dust using slurry sampling and detection by fast sequential hydride generation atomic absorption spectrometry is proposed. Doehlert design and desirability function were used to find the optimum conditions for hydride generation (1.0 mol L−1 HCl and 0.9% m v−1 NaBH4). The accuracy of the analytical method was evaluated by analysis of reference material fly ash (BCR 176R), addition and recovery tests for inorganic As species, and comparison of independent methods for Sb determination in urban dust samples. The determination of the total concentrations of As and Sb and their inorganic species presented good accuracy, between 80 ± 1 and 101 ± 6%. Precision was expressed as the relative standard deviation and was better than 4.7% (n = 3). The limit-of-quantification values were 0.23 and 1.03 mg kg−1 for As and Sb, respectively. The methodology was applied to eight samples of dust collected in an urban area of Salvador and Jaguaquara cities, Bahia, Northeast, Brazil, with an aerodynamic size lower than 38 μm. Concentrations of pentavalent inorganic species (iAs5+ and iSb5+) in relation to trivalent species (iAs3+ and iSb3+) were found in urban dust collected in the city of Salvador, which are regarded as more toxic for both elements. The enrichment factor and geoaccumulation index (Igeo) values showed that for some samples, the concentrations of iAs and iSb presented strong enrichment and, and regarding environment, strong to moderately polluted by iAs and iSb, with an indication of anthropogenic contributions. The occurrence of these inorganic constituents in the urban area of Salvador can be related with intense industrial activities and vehicular traffic.