Heavy　metals　in　dust　have　been　found　to　be　a　significant　threat　to　human　health,　but　how　dust　sources　and　physicochemical　properties　influence　the　distribution　of　heavy　metals　has　not　been　fully　investigated.　Fuzhou,　a　Chinese　subtropical　city,　was　chosen　as　a　case　in　this　study.　We　collected　51　dust　samples　from　open　spaces,　in　order　to　serve　as　an　early　warning　system　for　heavy　metals　in　urban　dust,　the　risk　level　of　heavy　metal　pollution　was　assessed,　the　physicochemical　properties　of　dust　were　analyzed,　and　the　sources　of　heavy　metals　were　examined　using　a　combination　of　positive　matrix　factorization　(PMF)　and　backward　trajectory　model　(MeteoInfo).　The　results　showed　that　the　average　concentrations　of　heavy　metals　were　Zn　＞　Pb　＞　Cr　＞　Cu　＞　Ni　＞　As　＞　Cd,　with　Cd　having　the　highest　ecological　risk　level.　All　heavy　metals　are　positively　correlated,　the　higher　the　organic　matter　and　the　larger　the　particle　size,　the　higher　the　heavy　metal　concentration.　The　higher　the　water　content,　the　higher　the　Ni　and　Cu　content.　The　sources　of　heavy　metals　in　dust　are　complex　and　include　local　anthropogenic　sources:　traffic,　architectural　paint,　combustion,　and　mixed　sources,　as　well　as　the　impact　of　atmospheric　motion　on　dust　from　northern　cities　in　Fuzhou　City　and　Zhejiang　Province.　Our　study　provides　a　valuable　point　of　reference　for　early　warning　of　urban　heavy　metal.　Graphical　Abstract:　Sources　of　heavy　metals　in　open　space　and　ways　of　entering　the　human　body.　(Figure　presented.)　©　The　Author(s),　under　exclusive　licence　to　Springer-Verlag　GmbH　Germany,　part　of　Springer　Nature　2024.