Potentially harmful metals and metalloids in the urban street dusts of Taipei City

• Urban street dust samples were collected in Taipei City.
• Concentrations of Cr, Pb, Hg, Ni, Cd, Zn, Cu, Sr, As and Sb in street dusts were measured.
• Sources and potential health risks to humans were evaluated.
• Determinant role of anthropogenic factors in forming street dust were highlighted.

In total, 34 urban street dust samples were collected in Taipei City. Concentrations of potential harmful metals Cr, Pb, Hg, Ni, Cd, Zn, Cu, and Sr and metalloids As and Sb in street dust samples were measured and their sources and potential health risks to humans were evaluated. Traffic emissions were the main source of the potential harmful metals and metalloids in street dust samples from Taipei. Exposure routes for all studied potential harmful metals and metalloids, except for that of Hg, follow ingestion > dermal contact > inhalation. Children are at higher health risk than adults. The As, Sb, Cr, and Pb concentrations in Taipei have adverse non-cancer health effects on residential children. Carcinogenic risk of As exposure for children and adults in Taipei were higher than the threshold value (10−6–10−4). The study highlights the determinant role of anthropogenic factors in the formation of street dust.