Human health risk assessment of PM₁₀-bound heavy metals and PAHs around the Latin America's Largest opencast coal mine.

ABSTRACT: Air pollution in opencast coal mine areas is a critical issue, resulting in harmful severe effects on human health. Therefore, it is essential to understand the air pollution factors and to assess the risks to humans. This study evaluated the potential risks (carcinogen and non-carcinogen) of inhalation exposure to PM₁₀-bound heavy metals and Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) in an open pit mine in northern Colombia. During February-May 2022, PM₁₀ samples were collected at eight sites. Heavy metals (i.e., Al, Cr(VI), Mn, Cu, Zn, As, Pb) and PAHs (thirteen priority PAHs, and one non-priority PAH) levels linked to PM₁₀ were analyzed by X-ray fluorescence and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, respectively. PM₁₀ concentrations were found to

SUBMITTER: Arregoces HA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10754741 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature