Mercury risk assessment combining internal and external exposure methods for a population living near a municipal solid waste incinerator

• Published in: Environmental pollution (1987) Vol. 219; pp. 1060 - 1068
• Main Authors: Deng, Chunyan, Xie, Han, Ye, Xuejie, Zhang, Haoran, Liu, Maodian, Tong, Yindong, Ou, Langbo, Yuan, Wen, Zhang, Wei, Wang, Xuejun
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Elsevier Ltd 01.12.2016
• Subjects: air; Air Pollutants - analysis; blood sampling; China; correlation; Developing Countries; Diet; emissions; Environmental Exposure - analysis; Environmental Monitoring - methods; Environmental Pollutants - analysis; exposure assessment; External exposure; Food Contamination; Gases - analysis; human health; Humans; Incineration; incinerators; Internal exposure; mercury; Mercury - analysis; Methylmercury; methylmercury compounds; Methylmercury Compounds - analysis; municipal solid waste; Municipal solid waste incinerator; Occupational Exposure - analysis; questionnaires; regression analysis; risk; Risk Assessment; soil; Soil - chemistry; Soil Pollutants - analysis; Solid Waste - analysis; Surveys and Questionnaires; Total mercury; Waste Disposal Facilities; waste incineration; China, People's Rep; China; Municipal solid waste incinerator; Total mercury; External exposure; Methylmercury; Internal exposure
• ISSN: 0269-7491; 1873-6424; 1873-6424
• DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2016.09.006

Risk assessments for human health have been conducted for municipal solid waste incinerators (MSWIs) in many western countries, whereas only a few risk assessments have been performed for MSWIs in developing countries such as China where the use of waste incineration is increasing rapidly. To assess the mercury exposure risks of a population living near the largest MSWI in South China, we combined internal exposure and external exposure assessment with an individual–specific questionnaire. The mercury concentrations in air, soil, and locally collected food around the MSWI were assessed. The total mercury (T-Hg) and methylmercury (MeHg) of 447 blood samples from a control group, residential exposure group, and MSWI workers were measured. The internal and external exposures of the subject population were analyzed. Significant difference in MeHg concentrations was observed between the control group and the exposed group, between the control group and the MSWI workers, and between the exposed group and the MSWI workers (median levels: 0.70 μg/L, 0.81 μg/L, and 1.02 μg/L for the control group, exposed group, and MSWI workers, respectively). The MeHg/T-Hg ratio was 0.51 ± 0.19, 0.59 ± 0.17 and 0.58 ± 0.25, respectively. Multiple linear regression analysis indicated that MeHg concentrations were positively correlated with the gaseous mercury in the air. Combining internal and external exposure assessment showed that the direct contribution of MSWI emissions was minor compared with the dietary contribution. The external and internal exposures were well matched with each other. This study also suggested that an integrated method combining internal and external exposure assessment with an individual–specific questionnaire is feasible to assess the risks for a population living near a MSWI. [Display omitted] •Monitored external exposure and internal exposure.•Mercury risk assessment of both population living near and working within a MSWI.•An integrated method combining both external and internal exposure assessment. Risk assessment combining internal and external exposure showed that the impact of MSWI emissions (inhalation) on human mercury exposure was minimal compared with the food intake.