## 1 Introduction  
In contemporary society, numerous human activities, such as accelerated industrial development, atmospheric deposition, agricultural practices including manure application, and the widespread use of chemical fertilizers, have led to the release of metals into the environment, becoming a major contributor to pollution. Soil is particularly affected by the release of heavy metals such as manganese (Mn), lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), and arsenic (As) [1]. These toxic heavy metals (HMs) in soil present a significant environmental challenge due to their persistent characteristics and detrimental effects. Consequently, elevated levels of heavy metal contamination in soil pose significant risks to both human health and the environment, leading to a variety of serious health issues, including neurotoxicity, carcinogenicity, renal problems, shortened lifespans, Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, kidney disorders, respiratory ailments, mental health disorders in children, vision impairments, depression, dementia [2], and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). COPD, characterized by chronic lung inflammation and obstructed airflow, affects approximately 11.7 million adults annually and results in numerous emergency department visits and significant healthcare costs (American Lung Association). Notably, COPD, a leading cause of death in the USA, has been linked to exposure to heavy metals carried in airborne dust. North Birmingham in Alabama, specifically the area covering zip codes 35207 and 35217, as depicted in Figure 1, hosts active open quarries, mining operations, steel mills, coal-fired power plants, coke furnaces, and other industrial activities that contribute significantly to heavy metal pollution. Cadmium, arsenic, manganese, and other toxic substances have heavily contaminated this region's air, soil, and water, posing significant health risks to local residents. Due to the historical and ongoing pollution in North Birmingham, this area has been suggested for inclusion in the National Priorities List (NPL) as a Superfund site. Therefore, the persistent contamination of air, water, and soil in North Birmingham due to heavy metals and other toxic compounds significantly elevates health risks within the community. Rapid and comprehensive analytical techniques for detecting HMs are essential to address these concerns. These methods are crucial for comprehending HM-induced pulmonary injuries and assessing the efficacy of mechanical and chemical pollution mitigation strategies. They are also instrumental in implementing effective control measures. Conventional off-line analytical techniques such as atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS), UV-visible spectrophotometry, inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopy (ICP-AES), X-ray fluorescence (XRF), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) have traditionally been used to measure HM concentrations in soil. While these methods offer good detection limits and accuracy, they are limited by lengthy and complex sample preparation procedures, extended detection times, resource-intensive requirements, and the generation of chemical waste. As a result, they often fail to meet the demand for cost-effective and real-time measurements [3, 4], crucial for practical rapid analysis [5]. Moreover, many of these techniques are inherently destructive [6], further complicating their applicability. In contrast, laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) overcomes these challenges. LIBS can examine samples in any atmospheric condition, regardless of their state (solid,  
Figure 1: Affected zip codes 35207 and 35217 (red) and control zip code 35214 (yellow) (similar demographics, smoking prevalence, and socioeconomic status). There is more than twice the prevalence of patients with COPD and other lung diseases in zip codes 35207 and 35217.  
liquid, gas, powder, aerosol, biological material, polymer, etc.).