Carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic risks from PM10-and PM2.5-Bound metals in a critically polluted coal mining area

• Published in: Atmospheric pollution research Vol. 10; no. 6; pp. 1964 - 1975
• Main Authors: Roy, Debananda, Singh, Gurdeep, Seo, Yong-Chil
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier B.V 01.11.2019
• Subjects: Cancer risks; Coal mining; Non-cancer risk; Particulate matter; Trace metals; Coal mining; Non-cancer risk; Particulate matter; Trace metals; Cancer risks
• ISSN: 1309-1042; 1309-1042
• DOI: 10.1016/j.apr.2019.09.002

This study analyzed the carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic risks of PM10-and PM2.5-bound trace metals, using exposure pathways, in a critically polluted coal mining area, the Jharia coalfield (JCF), India. The human health risks were calculated via ingestion (ing), inhalation (inh), and dermal (derm) absorption in adults and children. The cancer risks (CR) were evaluated as Total CR, CRinh, CRing, and CRderm, and the non-cancer risks as the hazard quotient (HQ) and hazard index (HI). The obtained CR levels were verified using the incremental lifetime cancer risk for inhalation exposure and Monte Carlo simulations for all exposure pathways. The HQinh and HI were found to be significant (>1) for both PM10 and PM2.5 at all 18 monitoring stations that were selected for this study. The Total CR for PM10 was estimated to be maximum in the city near the mine-fire area (3.67 × 10−2), followed by the mine-fire area (2.26 × 10−2), while that for PM2.5 was highest at the core mining area (1.06 × 10−2), followed by the city adjacent to the mine-fire area (8.85 × 10−3). The Total CR and CR for all individual exposures were not only found to be significant (>10−6), but also exceeded the acceptable CR levels (1.00 × 10−6- 1.00 × 10−4). Consequently, the study area fell in the high (10−3≤ to <10−1) and moderate (10−4≤ to <10−3) risk categories for PM10 and PM2.5, respectively. Finally, Cd, Cr(VI), and Pb, which are signature elements of coal and oil combustions, were identified as significant contributors to the CR levels in JCF. •Non-cancer and cancer risks estimated for PM10-and PM2.5-bound trace metals.•Inhalation cancer risk levels were verified by incremental lifetime cancer risk.•Significant health risks levels found for both age groups for PMs-bound elements.•Total cancer risk estimated to be maximum in the range of 10−02 for PM10 and PM2.5•PMs-bound Cr(VI) and Cd were identified as most significant cancer risk elements.