University of Sistan and Baluchestan Journal of Natural Environmental Hazards 2676-4377 15 47 2026 03 21 Investigating the correlation of heavy metals (Zn, Cr, Pb, Co, Cd) and PM10 suspended particles in dust and assessing their health risk in Zabol city Investigating the correlation of heavy metals (Zn, Cr, Pb, Co, Cd) and PM10 suspended particles in dust and assessing their health risk in Zabol city 1 22 8137 10.22111/jneh.2024.47416.2010 FA Mohsen Farahi PhD. student of desert management and control, Faculty of Pasture and Watershed Management, Gorgan, Iran Ali Mohammadian Behbahani Assistant Professor, Department of Desert Management, Faculty of Pasture and Watershed Management, Gorgan, Iran Hamid Reza Asgari Associate Professor Department of Desert Management, Faculty of Pasture and Watershed Management, Gorgan, Iran Reza Dahmardeh Behrooz Assistant Professor, Department of Environment, Faculty of Natural Resources, Zabol, Iran Dimitris. G. Kaskaoutis Assistant Professor, Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Western Macedonia, Kozani, Greece Journal Article 2023 12 09 Particles in suspension represent one of the most significant pathways through which humans encounter various environmental pollutants, particularly heavy metals. This study aims to investigate the correlation between heavy elements Co, Cd, Cr, Zn, and Pb and PM₁₀ particles, as well as to assess their health risks in the city of Zabol. In this research, 60 dust samples were collected using TCR sampling devices during dust storms and winds over 120 days from late April to mid-September in Zabol. Subsequently, five elements, namely chromium, zinc, lead, cobalt, and cadmium, were analyzed using ICP-OES. Pearson correlation test was employed to examine the correlation between heavy metal concentrations in dust and the PM₁₀ particle concentrations. The statistical analysis results revealed a significant correlation between chromium and PM₁₀ concentration. The average concentration of PM₁₀ particles in Zabol shows the critical situation of this city. Furthermore, the average Ecological Risk Index (ER) for the studied heavy metals in dust samples followed the order Zn> Pb > Cd > Cr and showed a decreasing trend. On the one hand, the highest and lowest levels of non-carcinogenic risk for all heavy metals were obtained in the children age group, with values of 1.14×10^-2 (mg/kg) and 8.25×10^-16 (mg/kg), respectively. In the adult age group, the highest and lowest levels were found to be 1.23×10^-3 and 3.42×10^-15 (mg/kg) for cadmium and chromium, respectively. The average concentration of heavy metals in the dust indicated that Zabol is contaminated with heavy metals. This metal concentration can be attributed to various factors, including the extraction and transport of elements from the Hamoun dry marsh, the dispersion of  PM₁₀ particles by 120-day winds from northern and northeastern regions or higher latitudes, industrial activities, urban traffic, and population density Particles in suspension represent one of the most significant pathways through which humans encounter various environmental pollutants, particularly heavy metals. This study aims to investigate the correlation between heavy elements Co, Cd, Cr, Zn, and Pb and PM₁₀ particles, as well as to assess their health risks in the city of Zabol. In this research, 60 dust samples were collected using TCR sampling devices during dust storms and winds over 120 days from late April to mid-September in Zabol. Subsequently, five elements, namely chromium, zinc, lead, cobalt, and cadmium, were analyzed using ICP-OES. Pearson correlation test was employed to examine the correlation between heavy metal concentrations in dust and the PM₁₀ particle concentrations. The statistical analysis results revealed a significant correlation between chromium and PM₁₀ concentration. The average concentration of PM₁₀ particles in Zabol shows the critical situation of this city. Furthermore, the average Ecological Risk Index (ER) for the studied heavy metals in dust samples followed the order Zn> Pb > Cd > Cr and showed a decreasing trend. On the one hand, the highest and lowest levels of non-carcinogenic risk for all heavy metals were obtained in the children age group, with values of 1.14×10^-2 (mg/kg) and 8.25×10^-16 (mg/kg), respectively. In the adult age group, the highest and lowest levels were found to be 1.23×10^-3 and 3.42×10^-15 (mg/kg) for cadmium and chromium, respectively. The average concentration of heavy metals in the dust indicated that Zabol is contaminated with heavy metals. This metal concentration can be attributed to various factors, including the extraction and transport of elements from the Hamoun dry marsh, the dispersion of  PM₁₀ particles by 120-day winds from northern and northeastern regions or higher latitudes, industrial activities, urban traffic, and population density https://jneh.usb.ac.ir/article_8137_65f90359b308608784b7808fc54a2b50.pdf