Health Risk Assessment Of Exposure Research Articles

Health risk assessment of exposure to formaldehyde in dental materials

Abstract

Health risk assessment of exposure to organic matter from the use of reclaimed water in toilets

To estimate the carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic risks of six volatile organic compounds (VOCs) found in reclaimed water used for flushing toilets, a probabilistic health risk assessment based on Monte Carlo simulations was used. Before Monte Carlo simulations, the contaminant volatilization model was applied to estimate the concentration of the pollutants in air. Moreover, a questionnaire was used to acquire daily exposure time and the Batch Fit tool of Crystal Ball software was applied to find the best-fitting distribution of a part of the input parameters. The risk analysis indicated that the health risks from six VOCs were lower than the negligible risk level (1 × 10(-8)) in all cases, and the health risk for females was slightly higher than that for males. Overall, exposure to organic pollutants in reclaimed water during toilet flushing does not currently pose a significant carcinogenic risk to humans. In this study, we want to provide some information on the health risk from reclaimed water used for toilet flushing in China and hope that it will be useful to promote the application of reclaimed water in water-deficient areas.

Health risk assessment of exposure to polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) contained in residential air particulate and dust in Guangzhou and Hong Kong

Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) were measured in air particulate PM2.5 (less than 2.5 μm), TSP (Total Suspend Particle) and dust samples from different households of two major urban centers of Pearl River Delta (PRD). ∑PBDEs in PM2.5 of households in Guangzhou (GZ) (52.9–2.03 × 103 pg m−3 mean 239 pg m−3) were significantly higher than Hong Kong (HK) (0.25–160 pg m−3, mean 43.8 pg m−3). Higher ∑PBDEs occurred in indoor TSP, ranging between 117 and 1.14 × 103 pg m−3, with a median of 333 pg m−3. BDE-209 was the largest contributor to PBDEs contained in household dust, PM2.5 and TSP samples of GZ. Among the particles in household environment, PM2.5 accumulated the highest PBDEs, especially BDE-209. The constant Cparticle/Cdust values suggested that sorption is the dominant mechanism through which PBDEs are associated with settled dust and airborne particles. PBDEs were fairly uniform from urban sites to suburban sites, indicating the predominant indoor sources of PBDEs. Compared with indoor PM2.5, indoor dust ingestion made an important contribution of particle associated PBDEs exposure for adults (25 years old) and toddlers (1–2 years old). Non-dietary exposure dominated total PBDEs exposure, accounting for 91.8–99.0% exposure dose for toddlers and 45.1–82.2% for adults. Dust ingestion (69.3–96.1%) was the predominant PBDEs exposure route for toddlers.

Health Risk Assessment of Exposure to Metals in a Nigerian Water Supply

ABSTRACT This article reports the health risk associated with chronic intake of metals in the municipal water supplies of Eleyele and neighboring towns in the Ibadan metropolitan area of Nigeria. A total of 42 composite samples, consisting of treated water from the water treatment facility and residential areas receiving personal-use water (i.e., tap water) directly from the facility, as well as raw water from the treatment facility's water supply dam were sampled twice every month for 7 months. Concentrations of the metals were determined by atomic absorption spectrophotometry. Among the metals studied, Cd, Co, Cr, and Pb were detected at concentrations higher than maximum regulatory limits. Cd, Co, Cr, and Pb concentrations in treated water at the treatment facility ranged from 0.08–0.10, 0.14–0.16, 0.04–0.22 and 0.07–0.36 mg L−1, respectively, while personal-use water ranged from 0.08–0.11, 0.15–0.29, 0.02–0.29, and 0.12–0.65 mg L1, respectively. Likewise, concentrations of the metals at the dam ranged from 0.06–0.08, 0.17–0.20, 0.13–0.37, and 0.03–0.15 mg L1, respectively. It is estimated that exposure to the metals in the water supply results in oncological and non-oncological systemic health risks higher than is generally acceptable for drinking water.

Оценка риска здоровью населения при воздействии выбросов карачаганакского нефтегазоконденсатного месторождения по данным расчетных и инстурментальных исследований

Оценка риска здоровью населения при воздействии выбросов карачаганакского нефтегазоконденсатного месторождения по данным расчетных и инстурментальных исследований

Human health risk assessment of exposure to emissions from the karachaganak oil and gas condensate field according to calculations and monitoring data

Human health risk assessment of exposure to emissions from the karachaganak oil and gas condensate field according to calculations and monitoring data

Health risk assessment of exposure to chemical substances polluting ambient air in the city of kazan based on the laboratory data of various departments

Health risk assessment of exposure to chemical substances polluting ambient air in the city of kazan based on the laboratory data of various departments

Оценка риска для здоровья населения города Казани от воздействия химических веществ, загрязняющих атмосферный воздух (по данным лабораторных исследований различных ведомств)

Оценка риска для здоровья населения города Казани от воздействия химических веществ, загрязняющих атмосферный воздух (по данным лабораторных исследований различных ведомств)

Health risk assessment of exposure to chlorpyrifos and dichlorvos in children at childcare facilities

The present study evaluated 168 childcare facilities from 6 cities in South Korea to assess exposure to organophosphorus pesticides (OPs) in children through 4 major pathways (indoor air, indoor dust, surface wipe of indoor objects, and hand wash water of children). The Excess Cancer Risk (ECR) was calculated based on the Cancer Potency Factor (CPF) and Age Dependent Adjustment Factor (ADAF) in adults. Dichlorvos residues were detected in the indoor air, indoor dust, surface wipes of indoor objects, and the hand wash water of children at frequencies of 47.4, 90, 100, and 100%, respectively. After revision based on the ADAF, total cancer risk in the 50th percentile was 3.99×10−3 for inhalation, oral intake, and dermal contact in children ages 3 to 4 and 4.63×10−4 in kindergarteners ages 5 to 6. Inhalation was the primary pathway of pesticide exposure in children in childcare facilities. Children ages 3 to 4 in daycare centers had a Hazard Quotient (HQ) of 0.5 for dichlorvos, which was 50% lower than the risk criterion level of 1 but was higher than the 95% percentile with a HQ of 1.9. This study postulates that children in childcare facilities may be exposed to specific OPs.

Direct analysis of urinary 1-hydroxypyrene using extractive electrospray ionization ion trap tandem mass spectrometry

Fast detection (0.5 min) of 1-hydroxypyrene (1-OHP) in urine and hydrolyzed urine without pre-treatment has been successfully achieved by using extractive electrospray ionization ion trap tandem mass spectrometry (EESI-MS/MS) under optimized EESI and MS/MS conditions. Experimental results indicated that for MS/MS analysis the operating parameter of activation Q (AQ) was critical for 1-OHP fragmentation in collision induced dissociation (CID) experiments, and in the EESI process the primary ESI solvent was a key factor for extractive ionization of urinary 1-OHP. The limit of detection (LOD) and limit of quantification (LOQ) were 0.75 and 2.25 μM for both urine and hydrolyzed urine samples. A five-point working curve ranging from 2.29 to 22.91 μM for 1-OHP in urine or hydrolyzed urine was obtained (R2 = 0.9941 for urine and R2 = 0.9983 for hydrolyzed urine), and the relative standard deviations (RSD, n = 6) were 2.6–9.7% and 1.5–6.4%, respectively. The developed EESI-MS/MS method was validated by detecting 1-OHP in both urine and hydrolyzed urine samples. Recoveries were determined to >50% and 0.5 min was taken for each measurement, indicating that the proposed method is a promising strategy for high throughput analysis of urinary 1-OHP required for health risk assessment of exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs).

Intraurban concentrations, spatial variability and correlation of ambient polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) and PM2.5

To investigate the intraurban spatial variability of air toxics associated with respirable particulate matter (PM), ambient PM2.5 and 16 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) species (vapour phase plus 2.5 μm particle phase) were sampled over a dense network of sites in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada in June/July 2009 and December 2009. PM2.5 levels ranged from 2.46 to 11.0 μg m−3 in the summer campaign and 6.52 to 13.4 μg m−3 in the winter campaign. Total sampled PAH (Σ16PAH) levels ranged from 10.2 to 83.7 ng m−3 in the summer campaign and 8.31 to 52.1 ng m−3 in the winter campaign. Ambient PM2.5 and PAH concentrations were greater below the city's escarpment with a below/above escarpment difference in concentration much greater for PAH than for PM2.5 in both summer and winter sampling campaigns. Elevated levels of both pollutants were observed to occur near or downwind of the central business district and industrialized harbourfront area, suggesting the contribution of local sources. Ambient PAH exhibited a substantially greater degree of intraurban variability than PM2.5 (coefficient of variation approximately three times greater in summer campaign, four times greater in winter campaign) both above and below the escarpment, particularly for heavy MW species found predominantly in the particle phase. Benzo(a)Pyrene-equivalent toxicity (BaP-TEQ) associated with ambient PAH showed a generally similar spatial distribution to Σ16PAH; however, several sites with relatively low Σ16PAH had high BaP-TEQ (enriched in more toxic heavy MW species), indicating potential hotspots for elevated PAH exposures and local source contributions. Co-located field sampling data showed that central site monitoring was a poor proxy for PM2.5 and particularly for PAH and associated toxicity (BaP-TEQ) across the urban centre, underestimating levels at many sites, likely due to the significant number of locally distributed sources and mixed land use. The much greater intraurban variability of PAH relative to PM2.5, particularly for toxic heavy MW species predominantly in particle phase, demonstrated variability in PM2.5 composition and confirmed the importance of the local scale for PAH exposure health risk assessment.

Health risk assessment for exposure to low levels of dangerous chemicals mixtures in research laboratories

Health risk assessment for exposure to low levels of dangerous chemicals mixtures in research laboratories

Cadmium, environmental exposure, and health outcomes.

We provide an update of the issues surrounding health risk assessment of exposure to cadmium in food. Bioavailability of ingested cadmium has been confirmed in studies of persons with elevated dietary exposure, and the findings have been strengthened by the substantial amounts of cadmium accumulated in kidneys, eyes, and other tissues and organs of environmentally exposed individuals. We hypothesized that such accumulation results from the efficient absorption and systemic transport of cadmium, employing multiple transporters that are used for the body's acquisition of calcium, iron, zinc, and manganese. Adverse effects of cadmium on kidney and bone have been observed in environmentally exposed populations at frequencies higher than those predicted from models of exposure. Population data raise concerns about the validity of the current safe intake level that uses the kidney as the sole target in assessing the health risk from ingested cadmium. The data also question the validity of incorporating the default 5% absorption rate in the threshold-type risk assessment model, known as the provisional tolerable weekly intake (PTWI), to derive a safe intake level for cadmium.

Health risk assessment of exposure to selected volatile organic compounds emitted from an integrated iron and steel plant

Workplace air samples from sintering, cokemaking, and hot and cold forming processes in the integrated iron and steel industry were analyzed to determine their volatile organic compound (VOC) concentration. Sixteen VOC species including three paraffins (cyclohexane, n-hexane, methylcyclohexane), five chlorinated VOC species (trichloroethylene, 1,1,1-trichloroethane, tetrachloroethylene, chlorobenzene, 1,4-dichlorobenzene), and eight aromatics (benzene, ethylbenzene, styrene, toluene, m,p-xylene, o-xylene, 1,2,4-trimethylbenzene, 1,3,5-trimethylbenzene) were selected to measure their noncancer risk for workers. Concentrations of toluene, xylene, 1,2,4-trimethylbenzene, 1,3,5-trimethylbenzene, dichlorobenzene, and trichloroethylene were high in all four processes. Carbon tetrachloride and tetrachloroethylene concentrations were high in the hot and cold forming processes. The noncancer risk followed the increasing order: cokemaking > sintering > hot forming > cold forming. 1,2,4-trimethylbenzene and 1,3,5-trimethylbenzene contributed 44% to 65% and 13% to 20% of noncancer risk, respectively, for the four processes. Benzene accounted for a high portion of the noncancer risk in cokemaking. The hazard index (HI: 17–108) of the average VOC concentrations suggests that health risks can be reduced by improving workplace air quality and protecting workers.

Cadmium, environmental exposure, and health outcomes.

ObjectivesWe provide an update of the issues surrounding health risk assessment of exposure to cadmium in food.Data sourcesWe reviewed epidemiologic studies published between 2004 and 2009 concerning the bioavailability of cadmium in food, assessment of exposure, and body burden estimate, along with exposure-related effects in nonoccupationally exposed populations.Data extraction and synthesisBioavailability of ingested cadmium has been confirmed in studies of persons with elevated dietary exposure, and the findings have been strengthened by the substantial amounts of cadmium accumulated in kidneys, eyes, and other tissues and organs of environmentally exposed individuals. We hypothesized that such accumulation results from the efficient absorption and systemic transport of cadmium, employing multiple transporters that are used for the body’s acquisition of calcium, iron, zinc, and manganese. Adverse effects of cadmium on kidney and bone have been observed in environmentally exposed populations at frequencies higher than those predicted from models of exposure. Increasing evidence implicates cadmium in the risk of diseases that involve other tissues and organ systems at cadmium concentrations that do not produce effects on bone or renal function.ConclusionsPopulation data raise concerns about the validity of the current safe intake level that uses the kidney as the sole target in assessing the health risk from ingested cadmium. The data also question the validity of incorporating the default 5% absorption rate in the threshold-type risk assessment model, known as the provisional tolerable weekly intake (PTWI), to derive a safe intake level for cadmium.

A health risk assessment for exposure to trace metals via drinking water ingestion pathway

A health risk assessment was conducted for exposure to trace metals via drinking water ingestion pathway for Province of Izmir, Turkey. Concentrations of 11 trace metals were measured in drinking waters collected from 100 population weighted random sampling units (houses). The samples were analyzed in atomic absorption spectrometry for arsenic, and inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectrometry for Be, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Mn, Ni, Pb, V, and Zn. Questionnaires were administered to a participant from each sampling unit to determine drinking water consumption related information and demographics. Exposure and risks were estimated for each individual by direct calculation, and for Izmir population by Monte Carlo simulation. Six trace metals (As, Cr, Cu, Mn, Ni, and Zn) were detected in >50% of the samples. Concentrations of As and Ni exceeded the corresponding standards in 20% and 58% of the samples, respectively. As a result, arsenic noncarcinogenic risks were higher than the level of concern for 19% of the population, whereas carcinogenic risks were >10(-4) for 46%, and >10(-6) for 90% of the population.

Comparisons of levels of polychlorinated dibenzo- p-dioxins/dibenzofurans in the surrounding environment and workplace of two municipal solid waste incinerators

Polychlorinated dibenzo- p-dioxins and dibenzofurans (PCDD/Fs) in the surrounding environment (outdoor) and workplace air of two municipal solid waste incinerators (MSWIs, T and M) were characterized and compared. T and M represented two typical municipal solid waste incinerators in the north of Taiwan, which have different processes for controlling the PCDD/F emissions. The results of this study are summarized as follows. (1) The total PCDD/F and the total PCDD/F WHO-TEQ concentrations in the workplace air were 5–13 and 5–15 times higher than those in the outdoor air, respectively. Obviously, it is worthwhile to explore more on health risk assessment for exposure of PCDD/Fs emitted from MSWIs, particularly in the workplace air. (2) Mean total PCDD/F I-TEQ concentrations in the outdoor air ranged between 0.0216 and 0.155 pg I-TEQ/Nm 3 and averaged 0.0783 pg I-TEQ/Nm 3 (0.0828 pg WHO-TEQ/Nm 3) during two seasons for two MSWIs, which were 6.5-fold higher than that of a remote site (0.0119 pg I-TEQ/Nm 3 or 0.0132 pg WHO-TEQ/Nm 3) in Taiwan. However, the above outdoor air concentration levels in the MSWIs were still much lower than the air quality limitation of PCDD/Fs (0.6 pg I-TEQ/Nm 3) in Japan [ http://www.env.go.jp/en/topic/pops/Appendix/00report/report.pdf]. (3) PCDFs were the primary toxicity distributors for PCDD/Fs in the outdoor air, since the ratios of PCDDs/PCDFs (I-TEQ) at all sampling sites ranged from 0.180 to 0.492 and were less than unity. (4) The OCDD, OCDF, 1,2,3,4,6,7,8-HpCDD and 1,2,3,4,6,7,8-HpCDF were the four dominant species in both workplace and outdoor air near MSWIs. (5) By spraying water on and wetting both the fly and bottom ashes, the mean total PCDD/F I-TEQ concentration in the workplace air was reduced 86.9% in the T MSWI. The above results indicate an appropriate improving action did inhibit the fugitive emission of PCDD/Fs and reduce the health risk of workers during work handling ashes in MSWIs.

Cancer Health Risk Assessment of Exposure to Arsenic by Workers of AngloGold Ashanti–Obuasi Gold Mine

Cancer Health Risk Assessment of Exposure to Arsenic by Workers of AngloGold Ashanti–Obuasi Gold Mine

WHO health risk assessment process for static fields

The World Health Organization (WHO) has a commitment to helping Member States achieve safe, sustainable and health-enhancing human environments, protected from biological, chemical and physical agents. The latter includes advising on the health impact of electromagnetic fields (EMFs) and radiation. The results of the WHO/ICNIRP/NRPB workshop on static magnetic fields, published in this volume, provide a valuable and much needed contribution to the health risk assessment of exposure to static electric and magnetic fields, which is currently being coordinated by the WHO's International EMF Project. This WHO health risk assessment will be published as an environmental health criteria (EHC) monograph in early 2005. This paper briefly gives an overview of the process of developing the WHO static fields EHC monograph, the criteria applied to studies that could contribute to the EHC, along with the ‘weight-of-evidence’ approach to health risk assessment. In addition, there is an increasing awareness of the need to account for uncertainty in the science database. This is traditionally addressed by further research, and the EMF project addresses these needs through the development of a ‘research agenda’. However, research programmes may take several years to complete, and the long latency associated with diseases such as cancer in people may also preclude a rapid outcome in some studies. The issue of current uncertainty is being addressed by the WHO EMF project through the development of a ‘precautionary framework’ in which precautionary measures will be applied to policy recommendations.

Bayesian Methods for the Cross-Design Synthesis of Epidemiological and Toxicological Evidence

Summary Systematic review and synthesis (meta-analysis) methods are now increasingly used in many areas of health care research. We investigate the potential usefulness of these methods for combining human and animal data in human health risk assessment of exposure to environmental chemicals. Currently, risk assessments are often based on narrative review and expert judgment, but systematic review and formal synthesis methods offer a more transparent and rigorous approach. The method is illustrated by using the example of trihalomethane exposure and its possible association with low birth weight. A systematic literature review identified 13 relevant studies (five epidemiological and eight toxicological). Study-specific dose–response slope estimates were obtained for each of the studies and synthesized by using Bayesian meta-analysis models. Sensitivity analyses of the results obtained to the assumptions made suggest that some assumptions are critical. It is concluded that systematic review methods should be used in the synthesis of evidence for environmental standard setting, that meta-analysis will often be a valuable approach in these contexts and that sensitivity analyses are an important component of the approach whether or not formal synthesis methods (such as systematic review and meta-analysis) are used.