Formaldehyde Exposure in Indoor Air From Public Places and Its Associated Health Risks in Kunshan City, China

2018 ◽  
Vol 30 (6) ◽  
pp. 551-560 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiaojun Liang ◽  
Jianxin Zhang ◽  
Wenlei Song ◽  
Kewei Wang ◽  
Baoying Zhang

This study assessed the noncarcinogenic and carcinogenic health risks associated with formaldehyde exposure for employees working in 4 categories of public places in Kunshan City in China. A total of 564 different public places, which can be divided into 4 categories (hotel and social interaction places, bathing and beauty places, cultural and entertainment places, and shopping places), and 2716 indoor air samples in those places were measured from January 1, 2010, to December 31, 2015. The average concentration of formaldehyde was 0.57 mg/m3, which is 5.7 times the acceptable concentration level (0.1 mg/m3). The noncarcinogenic risk assessment index for the 4 categories of places tested was above 1. The carcinogenic risk of formaldehyde for employees of the 4 categories of public places was 4.70 × 10−5 to 1.57 × 10−4, which was greater than the acceptable carcinogenic risk probability (1 × 10−6) from the US Environmental Protection Agency. The highest carcinogenic risk occurred in bathing and beauty places, and male employee carcinogenic risk was greater than that of females. Occupational formaldehyde exposure has serious noncarcinogenic and carcinogenic health risks for employees, and further research is needed to improve indoor air quality in the workplace environment.

Author(s):  
Rongjie Li ◽  
Mingchao Cheng ◽  
Yang Cui ◽  
Qiusheng He ◽  
Xiaofang Guo ◽  
...  

The quality of urban soil is closely related to the safety of public places and the guarantee of food quality. This study investigated the level, distribution, source, and carcinogenic risk of 16 U.S. EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) priority polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in urban, agricultural, and montane soil in Taiyuan. The ∑16PAHs level varied from 104.78 to 6594.63 ng g−1 with a mean of 922.93 ng g−1, and 47.73% of the soil samples were severely contaminated, with a concentration higher than 600 ng g−1. PAHs with higher molecular weight (≥4 rings) were dominant in PAHs profiles accounting for 80.92%. In the spatial distribution of PAHs, hotspots of ∑16 PAHs were observed near the industries, indicating pollutants emitted by the industries directly affect the surrounding soil quality. The sources identified by positive matrix factorization (PMF) indicated: coal combustion (40.77%), vehicle exhausts (32.94%), biomass combustion (14.89%), and coking source (11.40%). Coal-related sources (coal and coking sources) were the major contributors (52.17%) to PAHs and carcinogenic risk (46.48%) assessed by BaP toxic equivalent concentration in total soils. Therefore, the extensive usage of coal was the leading factor for PAH pollution and health risk in Taiyuan soil.


2020 ◽  
Vol 71 (9) ◽  
pp. 39-46
Author(s):  
Olayinka Abidemi Ibigbami ◽  
Samuel Oluyemi Adefemi ◽  
Samuel Sunday Asaolu ◽  
Iseoluwa Joshua Orege ◽  
Adeolu Jonathan Adesina ◽  
...  

The study determined the levels of heavy metals in some selected cosmetic products, commonly marketed in Nigeria, and assessed their possible potential human health risks. The health risk assessment was patterned according to the model of the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA). The heavy metals concentrations ranged from 0.043 0.027 (Pb) - 1.89 1.04 (Fe) with the concentration order: Fe]Cu]Zn]Mn]Cr]Cd]Pb. The total daily intake for all the metals were generally below maximum tolerable daily intake (MTDI). The estimated hazard index, hazard quotient and cancer risks were all within allowable level. The study indicated that users of the studied products are less susceptible to any significant health (carcinogenic or non-carcinogenic) risk.


2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ping Liu ◽  
Yahong Zhang ◽  
Ningchuan Feng ◽  
Meilin Zhu ◽  
Juncang Tian

Abstract Background Industrial and agricultural activities result in elevated levels of potentially toxic elements (PTEs) in the local environment. PTEs can enter the human body through the food chain and pose severe health risks to inhabitants. In this study, PTE levels in maize, soil, and irrigation water were detected, and health risks through maize consumption were evaluated. Methods Maize, soil, and irrigation water samples were collected in northern Ningxia, China. Inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectrometry was applied to determine the contents of six PTEs. Bioaccumulation factor was used to reflect the transfer potential of a metal from soil to maize. Health risks associated with maize consumption were assessed by deterministic and probabilistic estimation. Sensitivity analysis was performed to determine variables that pose the greatest effect on health risk results. Results The levels of Pb and Cr in maize exceeded the standards, while the PTE levels in soil and irrigation water did not exceed the corresponding standards. The bioaccumulation factor values of the six PTEs in maize were all lower than 1 and followed the order of Cd > Zn = As > Cr > Cu > Pb. The hazard index (0.0986) was far less than 1 for all inhabitants implying no obvious non-carcinogenic risk. The carcinogenic risk value was 3.261 × 10− 5, which was lower than the maximum acceptable level of 1 × 10− 4 suggested by United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA). Females were at greater risk than males, and the age group of below 20 years had the greater risk among all the groups evaluated. Approximately 0.62% of inhabitants exceeded the level for non-carcinogenic risk, while 8.23% exceeded the level for carcinogenic risk. The As concentration and daily intake of maize contributed 35.8, and 29.4% for non-carcinogenic risk results as well as 61.0 and 18.5% for carcinogenic risk results. Conclusions Maize was contaminated by Pb and Cr, whereas the associated soil and irrigation water were not contaminated by PTEs. Inhabitants would not suffer obvious harmful health risks through maize consumption. Arsenic level and daily intake of maize were the most sensitive factors that impact health risks.


Author(s):  
Umi Anissah ◽  
Ajeng Kurniasari Putri ◽  
Giri Rohmad Barokah

The demand for Indonesian opah fish as an export product is increasing in the international market. Three countries (Malaysia, Mauritius, and Taiwan) recorded as the leading export destination of Indonesian opah fish. However, as the fish kept in a frozen state during export transportation, the endogenous formaldehyde may increase over time. This research presented the health risk assessment of population in the leading export destination countries that consumed opah fish from Indonesia. The study aimed to reveal the most potential export destination country that may accept an increasing volume of opah fish supply from Indonesia. The potency was determined from current export volume, the amount of endogenous formaldehyde content, and fish consumption at each country. The data were calculated with @Risk®7.0 software. The results showed opah fish consumed by Malaysian can be categorized as safe. Increasing the number of opah fish imported by Malaysian as much as six times, 12 times, 18 times, 27 and 36 times relatively does not cause health risks related to the presence of its endogenous formaldehyde. Moreover, opah fish consumed by Taiwanese is also safe, but with increasing the number of consumptions by more than 26 times is suspected to be potentially causing a health problem. However, opah fish consumed in Mauritius was categorized as unsafe and potentially caused health risks. Based on these results, Indonesia may consider to increase the opah fish export to Malaysia and Taiwan in the future.


2020 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 166-175
Author(s):  
Fatima Haque ◽  
Yi Wai Chiang ◽  
Rafael M. Santos

AbstractCalcium- and magnesium-rich alkaline silicate minerals, when applied to soil, can aid in carbon dioxide sequestration via enhanced weathering. The weathering of these silicate minerals is also associated with the release of heavy metals such as Ni and Cr, depending on the composition of the parent rock, and also labile Si. This paper critically analyses the risk associated with the release of Ni, Cr, and Si from alkaline silicate minerals as a result of enhanced weathering to evaluate its potential to be applied as a soil amendment. Based on the available data in the literature, this study evaluates the soil contamination level and quantifies the risk these elements pose to human health as well as the environment. To assess these potential threat levels, the geoaccumulation index was applied, along with the method recommended by the US Environmental Protection Agency for health risk assessment. The main findings of this study indicate the potential release of Ni, Cr, and Si to exceed the soil quality guideline value. The geochemical index suggests that the analyzed samples are in the class 0–3 and represents sites that lie between uncontaminated zones to highly contaminated zones. The hazard index value for Ni and Cr is greater than unity, which suggests that Ni and Cr release poses a non-carcinogenic risk. The probability of labile Si concentration in the soil to exceed the critical value is found to be 75%.


Minerals ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (7) ◽  
pp. 678
Author(s):  
Kai Zhang ◽  
XiaoNan Li ◽  
ZhenYu Song ◽  
JiaYu Yan ◽  
MengYue Chen ◽  
...  

Cadmium (Cd) is a highly carcinogenic metal that plays an important role in the risk management of soil pollution. In this study, 153 soil samples were collected from a coal chemical plant in northwest China, and the human health risks associated with Cd were assessed through multiple exposure pathways. Meanwhile, by the Kriging interpolation method, the spatial distribution and health risks of Cd were explored. The results showed that the average concentration of Cd in the soil was 0.540 mg/kg, which was 4.821 and 5.567 times that of the soil background value in Ningxia and China, respectively. In comparison, the concentration of Cd in the soil was below the national soil environmental quality three-level standard (1.0 mg/kg). In addition, health risk assessment results showed that the total carcinogenic risk of Cd was 1.269 × 10−6–2.189 × 10−6, both above the acceptable criteria (1 × 10−6), while the hazard quotient was within the acceptable level. Oral intake and ingestion of soil particles were the main routes of exposure, and the carcinogenic risk control value of oral intake was the lowest (0.392 mg/kg), which could be selected as the strict reference of the safety threshold for Cd in the coal chemical soil. From Kriging, a prediction map can be centrally predicted on heavy metal pollution in the area surrounding the coal entrance corridor and pedestrian entrance. This study can provide a theoretical basis for the determination of the heavy metal safety threshold of the coal chemical industry in China.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
SHRAVAN KUMAR ◽  
Manish Kumar Jain

Abstract Women spend relatively more time in indoor conditions in developing countries. Exposure to various indoor air pollutants leads them to higher health risks according to Household air quality in which they reside. Particulate matter (PM) exposure with their exposure duration inside the household plays a significant role in women's Respiratory problems. We measured size segregated particulate matter concentrations in 63 residences at different locations. Respiratory dust depositions (RDDs) for 118 women in their different respiratory regions like head-airway (HD), tracheobronchial (TB), and alveolar (AL) region for the three PM size fractions (PM10, PM2.5 & PM1) were investigated. For different positions like Light exercise and the Sitting condition, RDD values found for AL region was 0.091 µgmin− 1 (SD: 0.067, 0.012–0.408) and 0.028 µgmin− 1 (SD: 0.021, 0.003–0.126) for PM10, 0.325 µgmin− 1 (SD: 0.254, 0.053–1.521) and 0.183 µgmin− 1 (SD: 0.143, 0.031–0.857) for PM2.5, 0.257 µgmin− 1 (SD: 0.197, 0.043–1.04) and 0.057 µgmin− 1 (SD: 0.044, 0.009–0.233) respectively for PM1 to females. RDDs values in the AL region significantly increases as PM10 (11%), PM2.5 (68%), and PM1 (21%), confirm that for women, the AL region is the most prominent affected zone by fine particles (PM2.5).


2019 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-7
Author(s):  
Reza Shokoohi ◽  
Samira Moradi ◽  
Zhila Ghavami ◽  
Azam Nadali ◽  
Raheleh Amiri

In this study, qualitative characteristics of the sludge produced in Hamadan wastewater treatment plant and the feasibility of its application in agricultural lands were investigated. Samples were taken from the primary and secondary sludge and indices such as VS/TS, PH, TKN, COD, TKN, SOUR, Na, Ca, SAR, heavy metals and biological properties (the mean fecal coliform count and the number of parasitic eggs) were measured. The results were compared with the United States Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA) standards (40 FCR-503). The results showed that the VS/TS ratio of the raw sludge was 0.8, 0.55, and 0.55 and that of the secondary sludge was 0.65, 0.28, and 0.32 for fall, winter, and summer, respectively. The average concentration of COD, TKN, SOUR, Na, and Ca for the initial sludge was 51283, 107, 0.50, 609, and 952 and for secondary sludge, it was 35595, 81, 4.90, 306, and 493 mg/L, respectively. The MPN for primary and secondary sludge was determined to be 19.83 × 106 and 186 × 106 , respectively and the average number of parasite eggs in primary and secondary sludge was 7.05 and 7.2 in 4 g of dry solids. Entamoeba coli had the highest number of parasite. The results of this study showed that the highest concentration of heavy metals in the sludge was 21396 mg/kg. The values obtained for the above-mentioned indices and heavy metals were in standards range. The results of this study show that none of the primary and secondary sludge samples has been properly stabilized. The values obtained for biological characteristics of sludge were not in the standard range. Therefore, it was revealed that the use of sludge for agriculture needed more stabilization.


Author(s):  
Sheldon Krimsky

This chapter explores the glaring scientific differences in the human health assessment of the popular herbicide glyphosate between European and American institutions. The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) classified glyphosate as a probable human carcinogen, while the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) concluded that glyphosate is not likely to be carcinogenic to humans. Both IARC's and the EPA's carcinogenic risk assessment processes are discussed. This work reveals uncertainties in the sciences of toxicology and epidemiology, as well as assumptions made in their applications for evaluating glyphosate. These uncertainties, along with the political context of chemical risk assessment, are at the root of the divergent findings on the carcinogenic risks of glyphosate.


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