Assessment of human health risks from heavy metals in outdoor dust samples in a coal mining area

Abstract

Jharia (India) a coal mining town has been affected by the consequences of mining and associated activities. Samples of outdoor fallen dust were collected at different locations of Jharia covering four different zones: commercial, petrol pump, high traffic, and residential areas. The dust samples were analysed for different trace elements (As, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Mn, Ni, Pb, Se, and Zn). The highest concentration of the elements in the dust samples are Mn (658 mg/kg), Zn (163.6 mg/kg), Cr (75.4 mg/kg), Pb (67.8 mg/kg), Ni (66 mg/kg), Cu (56.8 mg/kg), Co (16.9 mg/kg), As (4.1 mg/kg), and Cd (0.78 mg/kg). The concentration of selenium was below detection limit. Except Cd, contents of all the other elements in the dust samples were significantly lower in the residential area. High amount of Ni (145 mg/kg) and Pb (102 mg/kg) was observed in the high traffic and petrol pump areas, respectively. The exposure risk assessment strategies are helpful in predicting the potential health risk of the trace elements in the street dust. Selected receptors for risk assessment were infants, toddlers, children, teens, and adults. The calculated hazard quotient (HQ) for lifetime exposure was <1.0 for all the elements studied, indicating no risks from these elements for adults Among the receptors, toddlers were found to be more vulnerable, with HQ for Co, Cr, and Pb > 0.1. The finding predicts potential health risk to toddlers and children.

Dust–Metal Sources in an Urbanized Arid Zone: Implications for Health-Risk Assessments

“…However, is important to note that the carcinogenic levels for Cr in road dust were close to the safe level, thus emphasizing the importance of determining the Cr species. Cr VI is considered carcinogenic, and Cr III is essential for living organisms, but Cr III may be oxidized to Cr VI and enhance its toxicity (Rout et al 2013). Further studies pertaining to remediation must be performed.…”

“…Several studies related to human health-risk assessment of metals focused on soil ingestion (Hu et al 2011;Cai et al 2013;Rout et al 2013;Xu et al 2013) and the ingestion of road dust (Amato 2011;Chang et al 2009;Shi et al 2008). Soils from playgrounds are reservoirs of metals from a variety of sources including vehicle emissions, combustion, and industrial wastes (Charlesworth et al 2011;Wei and Yang 2010).…”

Environmentally-related health impacts of coal seam gas development: An impact assessment approach in Queensland, Australia

“…High levels of cadmium were found in the residential areas, while high levels of nickel were found in the high traffic areas, and high levels of lead were found in the petrol pump areas. While the risk characterisation showed no risks of health impacts from exposure to the elements tested, toddlers were found to be most vulnerable (chiefly attributed to hand-to-mouth behaviour), with potential health risks from exposure to cobalt, chromium, and lead exposure (Rout et al, 2013). …”

“…Another study on air quality in India used dust samples from various types of locations near coal mining operations to quantify heavy metal concentrations and characterise human health risks (Rout, Masto, Ram, George, & Padhy, 2013). High levels of cadmium were found in the residential areas, while high levels of nickel were found in the high traffic areas, and high levels of lead were found in the petrol pump areas.…”

“…Kurth et al (2014) assessed geochemical characteristics of PM around surface mining operations and found increased levels of aluminosilicates, which affect the respiratory system, and another study indicated higher inhaled deposited lung dose in surface mining areas (Kurth, McCawley, Hendryx, & Lusk, 2014). Likewise, Jones et al (2002) (Rout, Masto, Ram, George, & Padhy, 2013). High levels of cadmium were found in the residential areas, while high levels of nickel were found in the high traffic areas, and high levels of lead were found in the petrol pump areas.…”