Heavy metal air pollution in an Indonesian landfill site: Characterization, sources, and health risk assessment for informal workers

Abstract

A landfill is an area for disposing of final-stage waste, from source to transportation and disposal. This study assesses characterization, sources, and health risks assessment exposure to heavy metals (HMs) in ambient air and personal sampler via inhalation by informal workers in the Piyungan landfill site area. The sample was carried out using a high-volume air sampler (HAVS) and a personal dust sampler that measures HMs and analyzes them using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). The interviews were conducted with the informal workers, with 45 respondents with health complaints. The analysis found a high concentration of HMs and exceeded the concentration limits set by the threshold limit values (TLV) in ambient air and personal sampler. The average concentrations of the elements (mg/m3) in ambient air PM2.5 are shown Fe 54.2, Cu 5.91, Mn 3.02, Zn 1.33, As 0.108, Pb 0.102, Co 0.027, Cd 0.004, and Se 0.0037 and in the personal sampler are shown Fe 480.90, Cu 8.42, Mn 12.26, Zn 12.76, As 0.24, Pb 1.45, Co 0.12, Cd 0.06, and Se 0.02. The Hazard Index (HI) values for the target metals, which indicate non-carcinogenic risk, were found to exceed the stated safety in PM2.5 had an HI value of 6.2 and the personal sampler showed HI values of 25. Analysis of carcinogenic risk of HMs As, Cd, Pb showed that there were high-risk levels of cancer-causing HMs in PM2.5 and in a personal sampler with a risk level ranging from (10−3 ≤ CR <10−1). The primary sources of HMs from are the vehicle emissions of operation landfills and waste components in landfills are electronic, construction, industrial, market, and domestic waste. These findings show that exposure to HMs can impact informal workers' non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic health risks in landfills and need control risk management to protect workplace occupational health effectively.