title: Assessment of human health risks from heavy metals in outdoor dust samples in a coal mining area.
abstract: Jharia (India) a coal mining town has been affected by the consequences of mining and associated activities. Samples of outdoor fallen dust were collected at different locations of Jharia covering four different zones: commercial, petrol pump, high traffic, and residential areas. The dust samples were analysed for different trace elements (As, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Mn, Ni, Pb, Se, and Zn). The highest concentration of the elements in the dust samples are Mn (658 mg/kg), Zn (163.6 mg/kg), Cr (75.4 mg/kg), Pb (67.8 mg/kg), Ni (66 mg/kg), Cu (56.8 mg/kg), Co (16.9 mg/kg), As (4.1 mg/kg), and Cd (0.78 mg/kg). The concentration of selenium was below detection limit. Except Cd, contents of all the other elements in the dust samples were significantly lower in the residential area. High amount of Ni (145 mg/kg) and Pb (102 mg/kg) was observed in the high traffic and petrol pump areas, respectively. The exposure risk assessment strategies are helpful in predicting the potential health risk of the trace elements in the street dust. Selected receptors for risk assessment were infants, toddlers, children, teens, and adults. The calculated hazard quotient (HQ) for lifetime exposure was <1.0 for all the elements studied, indicating no risks from these elements for adults Among the receptors, toddlers were found to be more vulnerable, with HQ for Co, Cr, and Pb > 0.1. The finding predicts potential health risk to toddlers and children.
authors.affiliation: Environmental Management Division, CSIR-Central Institute of Mining and Fuel Research (Digwadih Campus), Dhanbad, 828108, India.
authors.forename: Tofan Kumar
authors.initials: TK
authors.lastname: Rout
authors.forename: R E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Masto
authors.forename: L C
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Ram
authors.forename: Joshy
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: George
authors.forename: Pratap Kumar
authors.initials: PK
authors.lastname: Padhy
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003032:Coal Mining; D004391:Dust / Q000032:analysis*; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000032:analysis* / Q000633:toxicity; D004787:Environmental Pollution / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D007194:India; D007223:Infant; D019216:Metals, Heavy / Q000032:analysis* / Q000633:toxicity; D008875:Middle Aged; D018570:Risk Assessment; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D004391:Dust; D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D019216:Metals, Heavy