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. 2016 May 11;13(5):491.
doi: 10.3390/ijerph13050491.

Preliminary Assessment of Health Risks of Potentially Toxic Elements in Settled Dust over Beijing Urban Area

Dejun Wan  1 , Changlin Zhan  2 , Guanglin Yang  3 , Xingqi Liu  4 , Jinsong Yang  5
Affiliations

Preliminary Assessment of Health Risks of Potentially Toxic Elements in Settled Dust over Beijing Urban Area

Dejun Wan et al. Int J Environ Res Public Health. .

Abstract

To examine levels, health risks, sources, and spatial distributions of potentially toxic elements in settled dust over Beijing urban area, 62 samples were collected mostly from residential building outdoor surfaces, and their <63 μm fractions were measured for 12 potentially toxic elements. The results show that V, Cr, Mn, Co, Ni, and Ba in dust are from predominantly natural sources, whereas Cu, Zn, As, Cd, Sb, and Pb mostly originate from anthropogenic sources. Exposure to these elements in dust has significant non-cancer risks to children but insignificant to adults. Cancer risks of Cr, Co, Ni, As, and Cd via inhalation and dermal contact are below the threshold of 10(-6)-10(-4) but As via dust ingestion shows a tolerable risk. The non-cancer risks to children are contributed mainly (75%) by As, Pb, and Sb, and dominantly (92%) via dust ingestion, with relatively higher risks mainly occurring in the eastern and northeastern Beijing urban areas. Although Cd, Zn, and Cu in dust are heavily affected by anthropogenic sources, their health risks are insignificant. Source appointments suggest that coal burning emissions, the dominant source of As, are likely the largest contributors to the health risk, and traffic-related and industrial emissions are also important because they contribute most of the Pb and Sb in dust.

Keywords: concentration; enrichment factor; health risk; heavy metal; pollution; source.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
(a) Location of the Beijing City in China; and (b) the 62 sampling sites for settled dust in the Beijing urban area.
Figure 2
Figure 2
EF values of potentially toxic elements in settled dust in the Beijing urban area relative to the local natural soil and the UCC, respectively.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Spatial distribution of HIs (non-cancer risks) for children of: (a) the twelve potentially toxic elements; (b) As; (c) Pb; and (d) Sb in settled dust from 62 sites in the Beijing urban area.
Figure 4
Figure 4
A comparison of health risks for children and adults and EFs of potentially toxic elements in settled dust in the Beijing urban area.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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