Abstract
ISEE-499 Objective: To describe the range of exposures and health risks posed by ambient air pollutants in Durban, South Africa, including a comparison of industrialized and nonindustrialized urban communities. Material and Methods: Long-term exposures to major air toxic pollutants, including trace metals, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), persistent chlorinated pesticides, polyhalogenated dioxin/furans (D/F), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), and volatile organic compounds (VOCs), were estimated using periodic measurements over 2004 to 2005 at 3 sites: 2 sites in the Durban South Industrial Basin, and a comparison site in north Durban. Additionally, lead and manganese were monitored in blood drawn from 358 children. Using current estimates of chronic cancer and noncancer toxicities, individual lifetime risks and hazard indices were calculated to identify risk drivers. We evaluated differences between the sites, and compare results to risks estimated for other cities. Results: A small number of pollutants contribute most of the total estimated cancer risks (1.8–2.5 × 10−4), and the following classes pollutants warrant attention due to the presence of elevated ambient concentrations: (1) VOCs, specifically benzene, which was high (average of 9 μg/m3) at multiple sites in the DSIB and had a strong spatial gradient, showing the importance of local sources. (2) Selected D/F congeners and PAHs (eg, naphthalene), which showed a diffuse spatial pattern and suggested the importance of both local and regional sources. This also indicates that such exposures are widespread among the population in Durban. (3) Selected metals, including chromium, nickel, lead, and manganese. Noncancer risks fell just below a hazard index of one, the usual criterion. Based on both ambient and biomonitoring, elevated exposures of toxics are found in portions of Durban. Conclusions: Estimated risks from ambient exposures to toxics in Durban exceed levels determined in most other large and industrialized cities, indicating the need for continuing monitoring, assessment, apportionment, and mitigation.
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