Load characteristics, in vitro bioaccessibility and health risk assessment of PM_2.5-bounded heavy metals in indoor air of waterpipe and/or cigarette cafes compared to smoking-free cafes

Abstract

Samples of PM 2.5 particulates were collected from indoor air of 36 cafés, 14 cafés in which only water pipe (WS) was used, eight in which only cigarette was smoked (CC), six in which both waterpipe and cigarette were smoked (WCC), and eight cafés in which no smoking occurred (SFC) in Tehran. After that, the concentration of lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), nickel(Ni), and chromium (Cr) was examined by atomic absorption spectrophotometer (AAS) (GF 5000, Australia). The results indicated that the ƩMetal concentration (Mean ±SD) in WCC, WC, CC, and SFC cafés were 1118.5±50.42, 663.64±40.79, 425.57±17.55, and 79.02±5.13 ng/m3, respectively. The mean bioaccessibility of Pb, Cr, Ni, and Cd was obtained as 39.7, 31.4, 7.35, and 74.6%, respectively. The results of risk assessment indicated that exposure to heavy metals in the indoor air of smoking cafés of Tehran is considered high.

The Systematic Review of Environmental Pollutants in the Indoor Air of Waterpipe Café

“…Therefore, these people have a higher risk of cancer and chronic non-cancer diseases. In addition, cafes in the basement accumulate more pollutants and therefore pose more serious risks to the health of customers due to the poor ventilation system or even its absence (15). The results also show that hookahs are the main sources of human release of heavy metals in waterpipe cafes and the number of active hookahs significantly affects the concentration of metals in the indoor air of waterpipe cafes.…”