Biomonitoring of Trace Elements in Hair of Schoolchildren Living Near a Hazardous Waste Incinerator—A 20 Years Follow-Up

Since 1998, a monitoring program is periodically performed to assess the environmental and human health impact of air chemicals potentially emitted by a hazardous waste incinerator (HWI) located in Constantí (Catalonia, Spain). In 2017, samples of hair were collected from 94 schoolchildren (aged 10–13 years) living nearby and the levels of 11 trace elements (As, Be, Cd, Cr, Hg, Mn, Ni, Pb, Sn, Tl and V) were determined. The concentrations showed the following descending order: Pb > Hg > Ni > Sn > Mn > Cr. In turn, As, Be and Tl were not detected, while Cd and V were found only in a few samples. Some metal levels were significantly, positively correlated. Some significant differences were also noticed according to the gender and the specific zone of residence. Finally, the levels of trace elements showed fluctuations through time. Cr and Pb showed a significant decrease in comparison to the concentrations obtained in the baseline study (1998). According to the current results, metal emissions from the HWI are not relevant in terms of human health impact since their levels were similar and even lower than those reported in other contaminated areas.

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Concentrations of PCDD/Fs in the neighborhood of a hazardous waste incinerator: human health risks

Environmental Science and Pollution Research ◽

10.1007/s11356-018-2685-8 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 25 (26) ◽

pp. 26470-26481 ◽

Cited By ~ 9

Author(s):

Montse Marquès ◽

Martí Nadal ◽

Jordi Díaz-Ferrero ◽

Marta Schuhmacher ◽

José L. Domingo

Keyword(s):

Human Health ◽

Hazardous Waste ◽

Health Risks ◽

Waste Incinerator ◽

Human Health Risks ◽

Hazardous Waste Incinerator

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Spatial distribution of trace elements (As, Cd, Ni, Pb) from PM10 aerosols and human health impact assessment in an Eastern European country, Romania

Environmental Monitoring and Assessment ◽

10.1007/s10661-021-08931-4 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 193 (4) ◽

Author(s):

Katalin Bodor ◽

Zsolt Bodor ◽

Róbert Szép

Keyword(s):

Trace Elements ◽

Impact Assessment ◽

Human Health ◽

Health Impact Assessment ◽

Hazard Quotient ◽

Eastern European Country ◽

Health Impact ◽

World Health ◽

Human Health Impact ◽

Study Results

AbstractIn the present study, the concentrations of trace elements in PM10 were determined and analyzed at 115 monitoring stations in Romania throughout the period 2009–2018. The spatiotemporal distribution of trace element concentrations of PM10, the source apportionment and health impact assessment, was carried out. The results showed a very high multi-annual mean concentration for PM10 and trace elements as well. The multiannual average concentration of PM10 was higher by 29.75% than the World Health Organization recommendation. All studied air pollutants showed a decreasing trend during the studied years, showing with 17.84%, 50.21%, 43.36%, 11.27%, and 72.09% lower values for PM10, As-, Cd-, Ni-, and Pb-, respectively, due to environmental regulations. To assess the human health impact, the hazard quotient (HQ) and cancer risk (CR) were calculated using the health risk model developed by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The Cd and Ni might present a non-carcinogenic risk to both adults and children; however, the hazard quotient values are higher than the safe limit, with 9.53 and 1.93, respectively. In addition, our study results revealed that the inhalation of As, Cd and the dermal absorption of all studied trace elements were considered as the most important risk factors for developing cancer, especially in case of adults.

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Levels of metals and organic substances in workers at a hazardous waste incinerator: a follow-up study

International Archives of Occupational and Environmental Health ◽

10.1007/s00420-008-0350-0 ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 82 (4) ◽

pp. 519-528 ◽

Cited By ~ 10

Author(s):

Montse Mari ◽

Marta Schuhmacher ◽

José L. Domingo

Keyword(s):

Hazardous Waste ◽

Waste Incinerator ◽

Organic Substances ◽

Follow Up Study ◽

Hazardous Waste Incinerator

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Author Correction: Human health impact assessment and temporal distribution of trace elements in Copșa Mică- Romania

Scientific Reports ◽

10.1038/s41598-021-93460-w ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Katalin Bodor ◽

Zsolt Bodor ◽

Alexandru Szép ◽

Róbert Szép

Keyword(s):

Trace Elements ◽

Impact Assessment ◽

Human Health ◽

Health Impact Assessment ◽

Temporal Distribution ◽

Health Impact ◽

Human Health Impact ◽

Distribution Of Trace Elements

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Biomonitoring of Trace Elements in Subjects Living Near a Hazardous Waste Incinerator: Concentrations in Autopsy Tissues

Toxics ◽

10.3390/toxics8010011 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 8 (1) ◽

pp. 11 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Francisco García ◽

Montse Marquès ◽

Eneko Barbería ◽

Pilar Torralba ◽

Inés Landin ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Trace Elements ◽

Hazardous Waste ◽

Global Analysis ◽

Waste Incinerator ◽

Hazardous Waste Incinerator ◽

Liver And Kidney ◽

The Mean ◽

Autopsy Tissues ◽

The One ◽

Kidney Liver

The only hazardous waste incinerator (HWI) in Spain started to operate in 1999. Twenty years later, the levels of 11 trace elements (As, Be, Cd, Cr, Hg, Mn, Ni, Pb, Sn, Tl and V) were analyzed in five different autopsy tissues (kidney, liver, brain, bone and lung) from 20 individuals who had been living near the facility. In 2019, As, Be, Tl and V were not detected in any of the analyzed tissues, while Hg could be only quantified in very few samples. The highest levels of Cd and Pb were found in kidney and bone, respectively, while those of Mn were observed in liver and kidney. In turn, the mean concentrations of Cr and Sn were very similar in all tissues. A consistent temporal trend (1998–2019) was only found for Cr and Pb. On the one hand, the mean Cr concentrations in kidney and bone have increased progressively since 1998. In contrast, the mean levels of Pb decreased significantly over time, probably due to ban of Pb as gasoline additive. The data global analysis indicates that the emissions of trace elements by the HWI have not increased the exposure and/or accumulation of these elements in individuals living near the facility.

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