The concentrations of heavy metals(Zn

Cu

Pb

Cd and Mn) are investigated in surface dusts of Bengbu City

Anhui Province. The geo-accumulation index and the Hakanson potential ecological risk index are employed to evaluate the pollution degree of heavy metals in the surface dusts and the level of potential ecological risks. Results show that the average contents of Zn

Cu

Pb

Cd and Mn in the surface dusts are 254.29

85.64

72.39

2.31 and 535.86 mg/kg

respectively. The concentrations of the heavy metals are higher than their soil background values in Anhui Province. The evaluation results of geo-accumulation indicate that Cd is of partial heavy pollution

Zn and Cu are of partial mild pollution

Pb is of light pollution

and Mn is in clean level. All functional areas are in partial moderate pollution. Assessment results of the potential ecological risks indicate that Cd pollution is the most serious

beyond the strong ecological risk level in all sampling points. The other four heavy metals are in slight ecological risk. The sampling points in traffic

business

residential and industrial districts belong to very strong ecological risk degree and other sampling points are in strong ecological risk. After the removal of heavy metal Cd

various functional areas are in slight ecological risk. In general

the situation of surface dusts of Bengbu City is in a good ecological environment. However there is the very strong potential ecological risk for Cd.