Integrated risk assessment of potentially toxic elements and particle pollution in urban road dust of megacity of Pakistan. Issue 7 (8th August 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Raza Ahmad, Hamaad; Mehmood, Khalid; Sardar, Muhammad Fahad; Maqsood, Muhammad Aamer; Ur Rehman, Muhammad Zia; Zhu, Changxiong; Li, Hongna
• Is Part Of: Human & ecological risk assessment. Volume 26:Issue 7(2020)
• Page Start: 1810
• Page End: 1831
• Publication Date: 2020-08-08
• Subjects: Potentially toxic elements -- megacity -- road dust -- air quality -- particle pollution -- cancer risk -- human health; Health risk assessment -- Periodicals; Ecological risk assessment -- Periodicals; Ecology -- Periodicals; Risk Assessment -- Periodicals; 363.102
• DOI: 10.1080/10807039.2019.1611415
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1080-7039

Abstract

Abstract: Potentially toxic elements and particulate matter (PM) in the ecosystem are regarded as extremely hazardous because of their persistence, toxicity and bioaccumulative characteristics. Therefore, present study was conducted to estimate the ecological and human health risks of potentially toxic elements (Cu, Mn, Pb, Cd and Ni) and particle pollution (TSP, PM10 and PM2.5 ) at 2 and 60 m roadside distance from 15 different sites at dust polluted megacity of Pakistan. The AQI assessments suggested that the majority of sites were found unhealthy for sensitive at 2 and 60 m roadside distance, which reveals that that quality of road pavement and streets are far below than the required standards resulting huge quantity of dust particles suspended in air by natural and anthropogenic activities. The maximum geo-accumulation index ( I geo ) values (1.47 and 0.52) and pollution index (PI) values (4.18 and 2.15) were observed for Ni at 2 and 60 m distance away from the muddy edge of the roads. Similarly, maximum contamination factor (CF) values (24.5 and 94.5) and ecological risk index (ERI) values (4.11 and 3.15) were found for Cd at 2 and 60 m. The I geo and PI indicated that the road dust at a distance of 2 m was relatively more contaminated as compared to 60 m roadside distance. Highest cancer risk (CR) values (2.33 adult and 10.9 for children) were observed for Pb at 2 m, while highest CR values (1.21 for adult and 5.67 for children) at 60 m distance. No probable health risk was observed as the total hazard index (HIexp) of all potentially toxic elements was <1. However, children were appeared to be more susceptible to potentially toxic elements. Based on the results, we believe that the exponential increase in traffic load and industries have aggravated the pollution level and it is expected to be increased in the future.