Comprehensive Multidimensional\nAnalysis of Metal(loid)-Containing\nDust in Plastic Sports Facilities: Insights into the Potential Sources\nand Health Risks

Dust released from widely established plastic sports\ncourts and\nsynthetic turf poses potential environmental and health risks. Herein,\nwe systematically investigate the metal(loid) characteristics, potential\nsources, and health risks of 162 dust samples from 17 campuses in\nBeijing, using complementary analytical techniques. Bulk analysis\nrevealed higher levels of Zn, Pb, Cu, Sb, Cd, and Cr than background\nvalues, suggesting excessive anthropogenic contamination. Pb and Cr\nin plastic basketball court and track dust and Zn and Sb in synthetic\nturf dust were higher than those in other sports facilities. Multielement\nsingle-particle inductively coupled plasma time-of-flight mass spectrometry\n(spICP-TOF-MS) revealed more Fe-, Al-, Si-, Ti-, and Pb-containing\nparticles in the dust. At least 92% toxic Pb-containing particles\nwere composed of multiple elements. The significant correlations between\nPb and Cr contents on individual dust particles support their common\npotential source from inorganic pigments (crocoite, PbCrO<sub>4</sub>). Pb, Sb, As, and Cr in the dust pose higher health risks through\nintake. The risks were estimated to be approximately 3–5 times\nhigher for children than for adults. Additionally, highly toxic Cr(VI)\nand As(III) species were observed in the sweat and gastric juice leachate\nof dust, highlighting severe threats of the metal(loid)s to human\nhealth.