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 (PM2.5) and sedimented dust (SD) in school and residential microenvironments. 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 PM2.5 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 PM2.5. 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.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.