Monitoring of heavy metals in urban snow as indicator of atmosphere pollution

Snow samples from six sites located in and around urban areas in Sivas city, Turkey, were collected in the winter of 2000. After ultrasonic leaching of the melted snow solutions, they were analysed for heavy metals (Mn, Zn, Pb, Cu, Ni and Cd) by atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS). The results of the analyses were used to determine major sources and magnitude of heavy metal pollution. Besides, it was compared with the heavy metal concentrations in the urban snow with those of background areas to see whether they could be used as an effective indicator of urban atmosphere pollution. High concentrations of heavy metals were detected in snow samples collected in close proximity to emission sources such as motor-vehicle emissions, combustion of coal and fuel-oil, industrial area. The heavy metal levels in urban snow were several times higher than the background levels. After heavy metal pollution factors of each site were determined, their possible pollutant sources were detected, Our findings show that, data on the heavy metal concentrations in snow are a reliable guide to the degree of air pollution, and can be used as a simple and effective indicator of urban atmosphere pollution. The precision of method varied between 1.22 and 5.62% (n = 54) as average relative standard deviation % (RSD %) depended on the analyte and nature of the sample.