Health risks of exposure to air pollutants among students in schools in the vicinities of coal mines

Abstract

Air pollution poses a serious threat to human health and the general ecosystem both in South Africa and globally. This is mostly caused by the mining and combustion of fossil fuels, such as coal. There are some known pollutants associated with coal mining and combustion that are emitted into the air, resulting in various health implications that affect children the most as they are the most vulnerable. In this study, the levels of certain air pollutants in schools in the vicinities of coal mines were assessed. A cross-sectional study design was adopted. Five schools were purposively selected for this study. Air samples were collected inside and outside the classrooms of each school. Radiello V R passive air samplers were used to measure the levels of sulphur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide and ozone while filter pumps were employed for lead (Pb). Standard laboratory analytical methods were employed for the analysis. Estimates of the possible health risks resulting from exposure to airborne sulphur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide and ozone were performed using the United States Environmental Protection Agency Human Health Risk Assessment framework. The non-cancer risk of sulphur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide and ozone was determined using the hazard quotient. The results of this study revealed that sulphur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide and ozone were detected within and outside the classrooms at various levels. For example, the concentration of sulphur dioxide within the classroom ranged from 3.0 to 38 mg/m 3. Outside the classroom, sulphur dioxide levels detected were much higher ranging from 17 to 84 mg/m 3. The results of the non-carcinogenic risks from exposure to nitrogen dioxide, sulphur dioxide and ozone via inhalation route were less than 1.0. The elevated levels of these pollutants in the vicinity of schools investigated should be a cause for concern for all the stakeholders in the education sector. Therefore, appropriate measures need to be taken urgently to safeguard the health of the concerned community.

Air emissions and health risk assessment around abattoir facility

“…Previous studies have reported similar findings ( Chung et al., 2017 ; Ferrero et al., 2017 ; Sunisa et al., 2019 ). However, this submission is in contrast to the findings where exposure of individuals in the vicinity of landfill site in Cameroon and students in the vicinities of coal mines in South Africa will likely negligible no health threat ( Gilbert et al., 2019 ; Olufemi et al., 2019 ).…”

Indoor Air Quality Levels in Schools: Role of Student Activities and No Activities

“…As reported in Table 3 , denuders allowed us to take information on some indoor/outdoor gaseous pollutants such as benzene, toluene, xylenes, ethylbenzene, formaldehyde and NO 2 . Few papers have dealt with the pollutant determination by denuders in schools [ 52 , 53 , 54 , 55 , 56 ] but no papers address the relative evaluation differentiating between school activity and no-school activity. Once again, this is the main novelty of this paper.…”

Nitrogen dioxide exposure and health risk assessments of students in elementary schools in the vicinities of an industrial estate, located in Rayong Province, Thailand

“…This research calculated a health risk assessment from the hazard quotient (HQ) to evaluate non-carcinogenic risk exposure of NO 2 [3,19]. The children's health risk assessment to NO 2 exposure pathway was referred the exposure factor articulated by the United State Environmental Protection Agency: 2011 Edition [27].…”

“…The main source of indoor NO 2 at the school was between 64-71% of the outdoor NO 2 infiltration [18]. Olufemi et al [19] employed passive samplers to measure inside and outside NO 2 concentrations the school, as well as in the surrounding vicinities of the coal mine, South Africa, which used to passive samplers. They reported that the levels of NO 2 inside and outside were between 19-28 µg/m 3 and 9.9-27 µg/m 3 , respectively.…”