Health risk assessment for sulfur dioxide pollution in South Durban, South Africa.
Concern about health risks from sulfur dioxide (SO2) pollution prompted a health risk assessment for residents of the heavily polluted industrial region of South Durban, South Africa. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency health risk assessment model was used to evaluate health effects for individuals in 4 age groups on the basis of data for a 3-yr period, from 1997-1999. Under normal exposure conditions, the level of risk was low (Hazard Quotient < 1); only under the worst-case scenario (exposure 24 hr/day) was there a significant risk of developing health effects. Inasmuch as these results are contrary to the popularly held belief that residents have a high risk of developing SO2-related respiratory diseases under normal exposure conditions, future studies should more thoroughly investigate exposure patterns and verify the authors' assumption that indoor SO2 levels are zero.
Matooane
Mamopeli
M
School of Environmental Sciences University of KwaZulu-Natal Durban, South Africa.
Diab
Roseanne
R
D000393:Air Pollutants / Q000506:poisoning*; D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D006801:Humans; D007220:Industrial Waste; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D011634:Public Health; D018570:Risk Assessment; D013019:South Africa / Q000453:epidemiology; D013458:Sulfur Dioxide / Q000506:poisoning*
D000393:Air Pollutants; D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D007220:Industrial Waste; D013458:Sulfur Dioxide