Exposure to heavy metals and PCDD/Fs by the population living in the vicinity of a hazardous waste landfill in Catalonia, Spain: health risk assessment.
Most fly ashes produced in municipal waste incinerators of Catalonia (Spain) are deposited in a hazardous waste landfill (HWL) placed in Castellolí (Barcelona). This facility means a concern for the population living nearby. In response to this, we performed a probabilistic study focused on assessing human health risks derived from environmental exposure to heavy metals and polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans (PCDD/Fs) around the HWL. Concentrations of various metals and PCDD/Fs were determined in soil and air samples collected at the HWL, and in 4 locations around it. Health risks were evaluated according to the distance from the sampling locations to the HWL (near and far-sites). In general terms, metal and PCCD/F levels were relatively low in air and soil samples. However, concentrations of PCDD/Fs, as well as those of some metals, were found to be relatively higher in the HWL and Castellolí (the nearest village) samples than in those collected far away, resulting in a slight increase of exposure to those pollutants. Anyhow, the current concentrations of metals and PCDD/Fs suggest that it is highly unlikely that there are any additional non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic risks for the population living near the HWL.
Mari
Montse
M
Laboratory of Toxicology and Environmental Health, School of Medicine, IISPV, Rovira i Virgili University, Sant Llorenç 21, 43201 Reus, Catalonia, Spain.
Nadal
Martí
M
Schuhmacher
Marta
M
Domingo
José L
JL
D000388:Air / Q000032:analysis; D001572:Benzofurans / Q000032:analysis*; D000072338:Dibenzofurans, Polychlorinated; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000032:analysis*; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000032:analysis*; D006256:Hazardous Waste; D006801:Humans; D019216:Metals, Heavy / Q000032:analysis*; D000072317:Polychlorinated Dibenzodioxins / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000032:analysis; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D012621:Seasons; D012987:Soil / Q000032:analysis; D013030:Spain
D001572:Benzofurans; D000072338:Dibenzofurans, Polychlorinated; D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D006256:Hazardous Waste; D019216:Metals, Heavy; D000072317:Polychlorinated Dibenzodioxins; D012987:Soil