Health risk assessment on human exposed to heavy metals in the ambient air PM10 in Ahvaz, southwest Iran

Abstract

Heavy metals (HM) are one of the main components of urban air pollution. Today, megacities and industrial regions in southwest of Iran are frequently suffering from severe haze episodes, which essentially caused by PM-bound heavy metals. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the health risk assessment on human exposed to heavy metals (Cr, Ni, Pb, and Zn) in the ambient air PM in Ahvaz, southwest Iran. In this study, we estimated healthy people from the following scenarios: (S3) residential site; (S2) high-traffic site; (S1) industrial site in Ahvaz metropolitan during autumn and winter. In the current study, high-volume air samplers equipped with quartz fiber filters were used to sampling and measurements of heavy metal concentration. Inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES) was utilized for detection of heavy metal concentration (ng m). Also, an estimate of the amount of health risk assessment (hazard index) of Cr, Ni, Pb, and Zn of heavy metal exposure to participants was used. Result of this study showed that the residential and industrial areas had the lowest and the highest level of heavy metal. Based on the result of this study, average levels of heavy metal in industrial, high-traffic, and residential areas in autumn and winter were 31.48, 30.89, and 23.21 μg m and 42.60, 37.70, and 40.07 μg m, respectively. Based on the result of this study, the highest and the lowest concentration of heavy metal had in the industrial and residential areas. Zn and Pb were the most abundant elements among the studied PM-bound heavy metals, followed by Cr and Ni. The carcinogenic risks of Cr, Pb, and the integral HQ of metals in PM for children and adults via inhalation and dermal exposures exceeded 1 × 10 in three areas. Also, based on the result of this study, the values of hazard index (HI) of HM exposure in different areas were significantly higher than standard. The health risks attributed to HM should be further investigated from the perspective of the public health in metropolitans. The result of this study showed increasing exposure concentrations to heavy metal in the studied scenarios have a significant potential for generating different health endpoints, while environmental health management in ambient air can cause disorders in citizenship and causing more spiritual and material costs.

Particulate matter (PM10) enhances RNA virus infection through modulation of innate immune responses

“…Numerous respiratory risk studies have shown the strong association of the PM with increased morbidity and mortality ( Chen et al., 2017b ; Dai et al., 2014 ; Daryanoosh et al., 2018 ; Goudarzi et al., 2018 ; Harrison and Yin, 2000 ; Idani et al., 2018 ; India State-Level Disease Burden Initiative Air Pollution, 2019 ; Landrigan et al., 2018 ; Lu et al., 2015 ; Samet et al., 2000 ; Valavanidis et al., 2008 ; Carugno et al., 2016 ; Lin et al., 2005 ). PM is readily associated with respiratory infections such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) ( Khaefi et al., 2017 ; Ling and van Eeden, 2009 ; MacNee and Donaldson, 2003 ; Ni et al., 2015 ; Wen and Gao, 2018 ).…”

Destinations frequently impacted by dust storms originating from southwest Iran

“…Dust deposition over the Arabian Sea can cool the ocean surface, influence the phytoplankton, and affect the chlorophyll blooming (Rashki et al, 2015;Singh et al, 2008). Likewise, mineral dust has been suspected to be one of the most critical health risk factors for pulmonary diseases including asthma and allergies in young as well as older adults and contributes to meningitis in Sistan province of Iran (Goudarzi et al, 2018;Merrifield et al, 2013;Miri et al, 2007;Mohammadi et al, 2015;Naimabadi et al, 2016) and in West Africa (Martiny and Chiapello, 2013). While fossil fuel combustion, traffic emissions, upwind petroleum industry, and gas and oil drilling activities are the primary contributing anthropogenic sources in the Middle East, the war remains can be added to the list for southwest Iran, Iraq, and Syria.…”

Variations in Frequency and Intensity of Dust Events Crossing the Mongolia–China Border

“…Therefore, these events play an integral role in the Earth system, impacting air chemistry and climate processes, soil characteristics and water quality, nutrient dynamics, and biogeochemical cycling in the ocean and terrestrial environments (Hahnenberger and Nicoll 2012;Middleton and Kang 2017). In addition, DEs affect human and animal health and cause socioeconomic disruptions (Lee et al 2014;Zhang et al 2016;Middleton 2017;Baltaci et al 2020;Goudarzi et al 2018). Furthermore, DEs originating from source regions in Mongolia (MG) and China can affect East Asia's downwind area and the global environment across the ocean (Zhao et al 2014;Zhao et al 2015;Zhu et al 2008;Hahnenberger and Nicoll 2012).…”