Human health risk assessment of airborne trace elements for human receptors in the vicinity of the diamond cement factory, Volta Region, Ghana

Abstract

In this study, total suspended particulate matter (aerodynamic diameter range between 0.05 and 5 µm) levels in the vicinity of the Diamond Cement (DIACEM) Factory, Aflao, Ghana were measured and analyzed for As, Cr, Ni and Zn using multi-elemental technique of instrumental neutron-activation analysis. The primary objective of the study was to assess the human health risk of the trace metals exposure for children and adult population in four stratified zones in the study area. From the results, the mean dust level (538.92 µg/m 3 ) around the cement facility deviated completely from regulatory specification (150 µg/m 3 ) indicating massive air pollution in the area. The mean concentration (mg/kg) of trace metals in the area were found in the order of Ni (44.38) >Zn (25.65) > Cr (15.26) >As (2.87). The human-risk assessment study indicated that non-carcinogenic risk was insignificant but the risk of cancer could be probable. Ingestion exposure was the highest level of risk found for both adults and children population in the area. The study encourages more work as it cautioned that the current results cannot symbolize a general portrait of the cement industry in Ghana, explaining that similar facilities may differ in their pollution cleaning strategies and environmental conditions.

Exposure to Silica, Arsenic, and Chromium (VI) in Cement Workers: A Probability Health Risk Assessment

“…The ILCR for Cr (VI) also was found higher in an office building in the urban area in Malaysia with 0.92 × 10 -4 which almost near to the acceptable limit by NIOSH (Othman et al, 2015) The probability risk of lifetime carcinogenic cause from exposure to As dust in adults was 0.51 × 10 -4 (Widziewicz et al, 2016). Inhalation of As cement dust caused 0.007 × 10 -4 times greater likelihood of developing cancer (Addo et al, 2016). It was estimated that the 95% cancer risk due to exposure to As from industrial emission in Xiaogang, Taiwan is 0.04 × 10 -4 (Tsai et al, 2019).…”

“…A study on cement mineral dust exposure found that the inhalation of Cr (VI) dust without prevention and control measures caused 0.008 × 10 -4 times greater likelihood of developing cancer, while inhalation of As cement dust caused 0.007 × 10 -4 times greater likelihood of developing cancer (Addo et al, 2016). IARC had reported that the inhalation of Cr (VI) in the long term could cause carcinogenesis, immunological disorder, and fibrosis (U.S. EPA, 1998;Junaid et al, 2016).…”

Dispersion of PM and VOC pollutants from open burning of municipal solid wastes on host communities: emission inventory estimation and dispersion modelling study

“…The X-ray spectrum emitted by a solid sample bombarded with a focused beam of electrons is used in this method to obtain a localized chemical analysis. 34 In concept, all elements with atomic numbers ranging from 4 (Be) to 92 (U) can be identified. Qualitative analysis involves identifying the lines in the spectrum and is relatively simple due to the simplicity of X-ray spectra.…”

Dust Emission Monitoring in Cement Plant Mills: A Case Study in Romania

“…Addo et al [16] also found that the total values of dust in the vicinity of a cement plant in Ghana were in the range of 217.86-1771.13 g/m 3 , with average values of 506.77 g/m 3 , with deviations depending on the direction of the prevailing winds [16]. Exposure to 200 µg/m 3 of material particles for a long time can cause diseases of the upper respiratory tract in adults, and if it is in a range of 294-470 µg/m 3 , it affects the immune function in children.…”