Health risk due to heavy metal(loid)s exposure through fine particulate matter and sedimented dust in people living next to a beach contaminated by mine tailings

The non-carcinogenic hazard index (HI) and the carcinogenic risk index (CRI) due to exposure to metal(loid)s were assessed in children and adults living adjacent to a beach contaminated with mine tailings. Chromium (Cr), nickel (Ni), cadmium (Cd), arsenic (As), zinc (Zn), copper (Cu), lead (Pb) and manganese (Mn) were determined in fine particulate matter (PM_2.5) and sedimented dust (Sd) in school and residential micro environments. The HI in children was 13.8, 8.1, 5.4, 2.4, 2.3 and 1.8-times greater than the safety threshold (1.0) for Cr, As, Pb, Mn, Cu, and Cd, respectively; 84.1 % explained by dermal contact and 10.9 % by ingestion of Sd. The CRI for Cr and As was 3.7 and 3.2 times above the acceptable risk (> 1 × 10^-4), explained by the inhalation of PM_2.5 and Sd, respectively. In adults, the CRI for As and Cr was 46.0 and 2.8 times greater than 1 × 10^-4; As risk is explained by dermal contact and inhalation of Sd, and Cr by inhalation of PM_2.5. This study reports a high risk of potential adverse health effects on children and adults due to exposure to these elements present in the particles and dust studied. The treatment of filters and determinations of metalloids in PM_2.5 were performed by X-ray fluorescence. The metalloids in Sd were quantified by Mass spectrometry with source of inductive coupling plasma. (author)