Mercury risk assessment combining internal and external exposure methods for a population living near a municipal solid waste incinerator.
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.
Ministry of Education Laboratory of Earth Surface Process, College of Urban and Environmental Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China.
Chunyan
C
Deng
Ministry of Education Laboratory of Earth Surface Process, College of Urban and Environmental Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China.
Han
H
Xie
Ministry of Education Laboratory of Earth Surface Process, College of Urban and Environmental Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China.
Xuejie
X
Ye
Ministry of Education Laboratory of Earth Surface Process, College of Urban and Environmental Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China.
Haoran
H
Zhang
Ministry of Education Laboratory of Earth Surface Process, College of Urban and Environmental Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China.
Maodian
M
Liu
School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, China.
Yindong
Y
Tong
Ministry of Education Laboratory of Earth Surface Process, College of Urban and Environmental Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China.
Langbo
L
Ou
Ministry of Education Laboratory of Earth Surface Process, College of Urban and Environmental Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China.
Wen
W
Yuan
School of Environment and Natural Resources, Renmin University of China, Beijing 100872, China. Electronic address: zhw326@ruc.edu.cn.
Wei
W
Zhang
Ministry of Education Laboratory of Earth Surface Process, College of Urban and Environmental Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China. Electronic address: xjwang@urban.pku.edu.cn.
Xuejun
X
Wang
D000393:Air Pollutants / Q000032:analysis; D002681:China; D003906:Developing Countries; D004032:Diet; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000032:analysis*; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000032:analysis*; D005506:Food Contamination; D005740:Gases / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D017745:Incineration; D008628:Mercury / Q000032:analysis*; D008767:Methylmercury Compounds / Q000032:analysis*; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000032:analysis; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012987:Soil / Q000737:chemistry; D012989:Soil Pollutants / Q000032:analysis; D062611:Solid Waste / Q000032:analysis*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D064091:Waste Disposal Facilities
D000393:Air Pollutants; D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D005740:Gases; D008767:Methylmercury Compounds; D012987:Soil; D012989:Soil Pollutants; D062611:Solid Waste; D008628:Mercury
External exposure; Internal exposure; Methylmercury; Municipal solid waste incinerator; Total mercury