Concentrations of chromium and lead in particulate matter less than 10 µm at a gym near a vehicular traffic intersection and its health implications in gym´s users in Bogotá, Colombia

Abstract

Introduction: physical activity prevents from cardiovascular and mental diseases. To meet this goal, an appropriate external or internal environment must be available, where a good air quality is an important condition to develop the physical activity. Objective: to determine chromium and lead concentrations in particulate matter less than 10 µm at a gym near a vehicular traffic intersection and its health implications in gym´s users in Bogotá, Colombia. Methodology: for sixteen days (excluding Saturday, Sunday and holydays), from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m., at a gym near a vehicular traffic intersection, where public and private transport circulate, PM10 monitoring was carried out, using a Gil Air 3 personal sampling pump. Concentrations of lead and chromium were determined using graphite furnace atomic absorption spectroscopy, by analyzing PM10 filters, which were obtained from the personal sampling pump. Health implications were assessed by comparing the concentrations of the pollutants, against air quality guidelines of World Health Organization (WHO).Results: the daily average concentration of PM10, lead and chromium were 225,02 µg/m3 (SD: ± 152,54), 0,002 µg/m3 (SD: ± 0,002) and 0,50 ng/m3 (SD: ± 0,43) respectively. Conclusions: all the daily values of PM10 exceed the 24 hours air quality guideline of 50 µg/m3 as well as annual mean concentration of 20 µg/m3 established by WHO. Daily concentrations of lead did not exceed WHO’s standard, but chromium in 60% of the days with reading exceeded WHO’s annual average of 0,25 ng/m3. Although users of the gym only spend in average between 2 to 3 hours inside this place, they could be exposed to important concentrations of PM10 and chromium. These results are relevant because when users are doing physical activity, they are breathing more air that contains these pollutants, which could affect their health in the long term.