Buildings as repositories of hazardous pollutants of anthropogenic origin

► Building materials act as repositories of hazardous pollutants. ► Raman and XRF spectroscopies are crucial diagnosing tools of the analytical protocol. ► Black crusted samples present the higher concentrations of hazardous metals and PAHs. ► The accumulation capacity of pollutants of buildings depends on the type of material. ► Buildings could be static indicators of the pollution suffered in the area.