Abstract The objective of the study was to assess the health risk related to the presence of heavy metals in street dust samples collected from Canton Sarajevo (CS). Street dust samples (42) were grouped in three categories: high density traffic roads, medical centers/parking and parks. The mean concentrations for Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb, V and Zn determined by flame atomic absorption spectrometry (FAAS) were 1.71, 30.99, 74.85, 674.4, 221.9, 33.16, 41.46, 22.97 and 53.92 μg/g, respectively. According to correlation matrix analysis very strong positive correlation was found between Zn and Fe. The Hazard index (HI) values for non-carcinogenic substances for adults and children were 2.46E-1 and 1.31E + 00, respectively. There is a possibility of occurring of non-carcinogenic effects of street dust on children, as opposed to adults. Exposure pathway that most impact the non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic risk, for both, children and adults, is the ingestion followed by the dermal and inhalation route. The carcinogenic risk caused by Cd, Cr and Pb in the street dust could be considered negligible.

Efforts to reduce air pollution in developing countries may require increased use of biomass fuels. Even biomass fuels are a sustainable alternative to fossil fuels there is limited quantitative information concerning heavy metal content in their ashes. Therefore, this study focuses on the determination of the heavy metal concentrations in wood pellet ash obtained from the combustion of 10 pellet brans from Bosnia and Herzegovina and Italy, the effects of adding the ashes to soils, and the assessment of health risk assessment. Ash content was determined by gravimetric method. The amount and composition of ash remaining after combustion of wood pellets varies considerably according to the type of biomass and wood from which the pellet is made. Samples were prepared by wet digestion using HNO3, and heavy metals are determined by atomic absorption spectroscopy-flame and graphite furnace. The results showed that the lowest concentration in ashes was obtained for Co 0.01 mg kg−1 and the highest for Fe 571.63 mg kg−1. The Hazard Index (HI), calculated for non-cancerous substances for children was 2.23E−01, and the total Risk index was 4.54E−05. As for adults, HI was 1.51E−02, while the Risk index value was 3.21E−06. Human health risk calculated through HI and Risk index for children and adults associated with analyzed pellets is not of significant concern. The calculated enrichment factor and metal pollution index for wood pellet ashes indicate the risk of soil contamination with heavy metals. From this point of view, analyzed samples of ashes could be a serious contaminant of soil, so further monitoring is required.