Abstract
Classrooms Air Conditioner Filter (CACF) particles represent all of the exposed particles that have migrated to the interior environment. This study was conducted to assess the heavy metals contamination in CACF particles from Jeddah primary schools located in urban, suburban and residential areas; and to evaluate their health risks of children exposure (non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic). Heavy metals levels in CACF particles of schools were in the following order: urban schools > suburban schools > residential schools. Fe, Mn and Zn were the dominant species. Geo-accumulation index (Igeo), contamination factor (CF) and pollution load index (PLI) values indicated that the contamination levels was in the following order Cd > Pb > Zn > As > Cu > Ni > Mn > Cr > Co >V > Fe. School CACF particles was moderately contaminated with As and Zn and moderately to heavily contaminated with Pb and Cd. Enrichment factors (EFs) indicated that Zn, Cd, Pb, As and Cu in CACF particles were severe enriched. The hazard quotient (HQs) and hazards index (HI) values for heavy metals were lower than the acceptable level of one. As, Pb, Cr and Mn were exhibited high non-cancer effects for children. The lifetime cancer risk (LCR) and total lifetime cancer risk (TLCR), HQs and HI values for the different exposure pathways of heavy metals decreased in the following order: ingestion > dermal contact > inhalation. Carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic risk rank order of schools were urban schools > suburban schools > residential schools. The LCR and TLCR of heavy metals was in the following order: Co > Ni >Cr > Cd > As > Pb. The ingestion lifetime cancer risk (LCRing) and TLCR values from exposure to Ni and Cr in urban and suburban schools, Cd in urban schools, and Co in all Jeddah schools only exceed the acceptable range (1 × 10−6–1 × 10−4) Only LCRing and TLCR values from exposure to ∑ carcinogens exceed the acceptable level.
Highlights
Air conditioning (AC) is widely used as an effective mean to control the heat and to keep the indoor air quality within safe levels, since air pollutants such as particulate matter can be captured on the AC filter [1]
Classrooms Air Conditioner Filter (CACF) particle samples were collected from 10 primary schools located in urban, suburban and residential areas (Figure 1), representing different environmental conditions, and various functional categories to reveal the pollution impacts resulting from various human activities
CACF particles were moderately to heavily contaminated (Igeo class 3) by Zn and As in urban schools, Pb and Cd in suburban schools, Cd in residential schools and Pb and Cd in all schools, and heavily contaminated (Igeo class 4) by Pb and Cd in urban schools. These results indicate that CACF particles that have small particle sizes and large surface area, especially in urban schools, can carry a lot of heavy metals like Zn, As, Pb andthe
Summary
Air conditioning (AC) is widely used as an effective mean to control the heat and to keep the indoor air quality within safe levels, since air pollutants such as particulate matter can be captured on the AC filter [1]. Several studies have reported that interior particles contain heavy metals and other toxic materials [8,9,10,11,12] that make them one of the most important contaminants because they have a negative impact on human health, especially young children. CACF particles that representing the suspended and resuspended settled particles can provide useful information about air quality in the interior school environment and the possible hazards resulting from the exposure of children to classrooms environments with heavy metals particles. The present study aimed to assess the heavy metal contamination levels in CACF particles at selected Jeddah primary schools; and to evaluate the resulting health risks (non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic) to children due to this exposure, using the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) risk assessment models
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