Health Risk Assessment Of Exposure Research Articles

Occupational health risk assessment of exposure to major hazardous chemicals in copper and nickel smelting enterprises

Objective: To evaluate the risk of major chemical exposure positions in copper and nickel smelting enterprises, and provide a basis for risk assessment and prevention control measures. Methods: From September to October 2023, two copper nickel ore smelting enterprises in Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region were selected as the research objects. Relevant information on chemicals was collected through occupational hazard field investigations. Qualitative analysis and exposure index methods were used in GBZ/T 298-2017 "Technical Guidelines for Occupational Health Risk Assessment of Chemical Hazardous Factors in the Workplace" to conduct risk assessments on the main chemical exposure positions. The qualitative risk assessment results were checked for consistency using the Weighted Kappa coefficient. Results: The positions with high risk of exposure to hazardous chemicals in copper nickel smelting enterprises are saponification positions exposed to hydrochloric acid in refining processes, black nickel positions exposed to sodium hydroxide, and tail suction positions. The consistency between the two occupational health risk assessment results is poor (Kappa=0.14) . Conclusion: The amount of major hazardous chemicals in copper-nickel smelting enterprises is large, and the occupational health risks caused by exposure are complex and diverse, so the effects of chronic occupational health should be strengthened.

Health Risk Assessment of Exposure to Iron in Gravity Feed System Water among Indigenous People

This study aims to determine the health risk exposure of iron level in drinking water from gravity feed system among residents at Sungai Mas village, Sungai Lembing, Kuantan Pahang. A cross-sectional research was carried out based on inclusion and exclusion criteria. The purposive sampling method was used to select respondents of Jakun and Semaq Beri tribe. This research had two parts;questionnaire,as well aswater sample collection and analysis. The iron level was determined using Hanna Instruments HI801-02 iris Visible Spectrophotometer, while pH level was determined using EUTECHC Cyberscan pH 310 Series Meter. Median and IQR of iron were 0.080 and 0.030 mg/L, respectively.There was no relationship between iron and pH levels of drinking water samples in the study area. There was no significant difference between iron levels in drinking water and the National Standard for Drinking Water Quality, and the value ranged between 0.030-0.550 mg/L. There was no health risk of iron exposure among respondents. The HQ was <1. Generally, drinking water containing iron had no adverse health effects. The iron in drinking water in this study was not influenced. So there are no carcinogenic effects on the community in Sungai Mas Village, Sungai Lembing.

Health Risk Assessment of Exposure to Heavy Metals in Wheat Flour from Iran Markets: Application of Monte Carlo Simulation Approach.

The significance of flour in the Iranian diet underscores the need to ensure its safety from chemical pollutants. This study aimed to evaluate the potential health risks posed by certain heavy metals, such as Fe, Zn, Cu, Al, Co, Hg, Cr, Ni, Pb, and Cd, in wheat flour available in the Iranian market. A total of 248 flour samples were collected from 11 provinces in Iran during the winter of 2021. The health risks associated with heavy metals in children and adults were evaluated using USEPA health risk assessment guidance for superfund part A and Monte Carlo Simulation. The average concentration of Fe, Zn, Cu, Al, Co, Hg, Cr, Ni, Pb, and Cd, was equal to 30.62 ± 59.24, 4.94 ± 13.64, 1.24 ± 3.08, 2.85 ± 4.98, 0.03 ± 0.01, 0.12 ± 0.03, 1.42 ± 1, 0.23 ± 0.05, 1.71 ± 0.65, and 0.02 ± 0.004mg/kg dry weight, respectively. Analysis of Fe, Cr, Al, Hg and Cr in all flour samples showed that the average concentration of these metals were greater than the standards levels set by the WHO/FAO. The results of the non-carcinogenic risks (HI) showed that the hazard index values (children: 0.969 ± 1.04, adult: 0.837 ± 0.905) of heavy metals through the consumption of flour to both study population were acceptable. The results of the carcinogenic risks (CR) based on Cd, and Pb concentration showed that the CR values from ingestion of flour to the children and adults population were 1.45 × 10-5 ± 5.08 × 10-5 and 1.26 × 10-5 ± 4.40 × 10-5, respectively. The results of Monte Carlo simulation showed that conventional deterministic health risk evaluation could overestimate risk outcomes. Likewise, Cr has 68.8% and 69.1% probability of non-carcinogenic risk to children and adult, respectively, and 80% and 79.8% probability of CR for adults and children respectively for Pb, suggesting that Cr and Pb is a priority control heavy metals. Therefore, it is recommended to continuously monitor the levels of heavy metals in wheat and its derived food products to ensure food safety.

Health Risk Assessment of Exposure to BTEX and PAH Compounds in Workers of Burnt Oil Recycling Factory: Simulation Using Monte Carlo Method

Health Risk Assessment of Exposure to BTEX and PAH Compounds in Workers of Burnt Oil Recycling Factory: Simulation Using Monte Carlo Method

Chemical Health Risk Assessment of Exposure to Metal Fumes among Employed Workers in a Metal Manufactory with an Electric Arc Furnace

Chemical Health Risk Assessment of Exposure to Metal Fumes among Employed Workers in a Metal Manufactory with an Electric Arc Furnace

Health Risk Assessment from Exposure to Ambient Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) at a Truck Tire Factory in the Yangtze River Delta, China

Occupational health risk assessments of exposure to VOCs still need to be extensively studied to improve the safety standards in the industry. Based on the monitoring of organic pollutants at various workstations in a truck tire factory in Jiangsu Province, both semi-quantitative and quantitative health risk assessment methods were employed to assess health risk levels. The findings indicated that VOCs were categorized into five classes, which included alkanes, aromatics, halocarbons, carbon disulfide, and oxygenated volatile organic compounds (OVOCs). The highest concentration of total volatile organic compounds (TVOCs) was found in shaping workshop; alkanes were the most abundant class (74.2%), followed by aromatics (24.02%) and OVOCs (1.96%). Although the results of the semi-quantitative risk assessment showed that most of the organic compounds had low R values, various kinds of VOCs were detected; particularly, many harmful organic compounds (such as toluene, ethyl benzene) were detected in all the sampling sites. The quantitative risk in the calendering and vulcanizing workshop exceeded the acceptable level; both the carcinogenic risk of ethylbenzene in the tire-strip storage room, and trichloroethylene and perchloroethylene in the calendering workshop were unacceptable. Thus, the calendering and vulcanizing processes in rubber tire manufacturing should be priority-controlled processes.

Biomonitoring and health risk assessment of exposure to phthalate esters in waste management workers

Humans are at risk of exposure to phthalates due to the widespread use of plasticized plastics, and one of the major concerns is occupational exposure. The present study investigated occupational exposure to phthalates at one of the greatest solid waste management sites in the second-largest country in the Middle East. Carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic health risks were assessed by human biomonitoring (HBM). The concentration of phthalate esters was determined using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC–MS), and the daily intake (DI) of phthalate was calculated based on the adjusted urinary creatinine concentrations. Moreover, carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic risks were assessed. Monte Carlo simulations were performed for uncertainty and sensitivity analysis. The highest concentration recorded was 130.80 µg/g creatinine for mono-ethyl phthalate (MEP) among the composting group, while the lowest concentration was 0.49 µg/g creatinine for Monobenzyl phthalate (MBzP) among the office group. All estimates of daily intake were below the reference concentration, and differences between the DI at site sections were statistically significant (p < 0.05). The non-carcinogenic risk level was negligible. The excess lifetime cancer risk (ELCR) values corresponding to di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) exposure were 2.07E-04 among the composting group and 2.07E−04 among the processing group, posing a definite risk. The carcinogenic risk value among the office group was in a possible risk category with ELCR values of 9.75 E−05. The on-site workers of waste management sites can be highly exposed to phthalates, and their health risk is considerable. Appropriate measures and interventions should be considered to reduce occupational exposure to phthalates.

Health risk assessment of exposure to benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene and xylenes in a vehicle manufacturing industry in Iran

IntroductionConsidering the adverse carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic health effects of Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC) and specially Benzene, Toluene, Ethylbenzene and Xylenes (BTEX) which are widely used in vehicle manufacturing industry, it is clear that monitoring and control of occupational exposure to these substances is of utmost significance. More often than not the studies on occupational exposure to VOCs in vehicle manufacturing industry—specifically BTEX—have been carried out exclusively in paint shop units. The purpose of this study was to assess occupational BTEX exposure & health risk in different units of a vehicle manufacturing industry.Material and methodsFoam injection unit (FIU), gluing unit (GU), repair shop unit (RSU), molding unit (MU) as well as paint shop units (PSU) were selected for this study. Sampling and analysis were conducted based on National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) 1501 guidelines by utilizing MSA personal sampling pumps set to 0.2 l/m and Gas Chromatography equipped with Flame Ionization Detector (GC-FID). Risk characterization and assessment was performed using Environmental Protection Agency Risk Assessment Information System (EPA RAIS).Results and conclusionThe results revealed that the concentration of benzene in gluing and paint shop units was above occupational exposure limits. Carcinogenic risk levels in 8 out of 10 units registered in the 1E-2 to 1E-4 range, and only two units registered a risk level below EPA’s acceptable risk level (10–6). The highest risk levels were measured in gluing, paint shop and repair shop units. Furthermore, the total non-carcinogenic hazard quotient was measured higher than 1 in 8 out of 10 studied units. Considering the abundance and wide use of VOCs -most notably BTEX- and the adverse carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic health effects of these compounds, it is advised to: change the type of paint used in paint shops, improve the existing ventilation systems, develop new and more efficient ventilation systems and conduct consistent training.

High-solution emission characters and health risks of volatile organic compounds for sprayers in automobile repair industries.

The increasing automobile repair industries (ARIs) with spray facilities have become an important volatile organic compound (VOC) pollution source in China. However, the VOC health risk assessment for long-term exposure in ARIs has not been well characterized. In this study, though sampled VOCs from 51 typical ARIs in Beijing, the relationship between emission patterns, average daily exposure concentrations (EC), and health risks was comprehensively analyzed with the health assessment method. Results showed that concentrations of 117 VOCs from the samples ranged from 68.53 to 19863.32 μg·m-3, while the ARI operator's daily VOC inhalation EC was 11.24-1460.70 μg·m-3. The organic VOC (OVOC) concentration accounted for 73.16 ~ 94.52% in the solvent-based paint workshops, while aromatics were the main VOC component in water-based paint spraying (WPS) workshops, accounting for 70.08%, respectively. And the method of inhalation exposure health risk assessment was firstly used to evaluate carcinogenicity and non-carcinogenicity risk for sprayers in ARIs. The cumulative lifetime carcinogenic risk (LCR) for 24 sampled VOCs were within acceptable ranges, while the mean hazard index (HI) for 1 year with 44 sampled VOCs was over 1. Among them, ethyl alcohol had a high carcinogenic risk in both mixed water-based paint (MP) and solvent-based paint workshops. The mean HI associated with aromatics were 2.88E - 3 and 4.30E - 3 for 1 h in MP and WPS workshops. O-ethyl toluene and acetone are VOC components that need to be paid attention to in future paint raw materials and spraying operations. Our study will provide the important references for the standard of VOC occupational exposure health limits in ARIs.

Alkaline Hydrolysis of Poultry Carcasses and Health Risk Assessment of Exposure to Target Volatile Organic Compounds

HighlightsHydroxide solutions (1 M, 2 M, 4 M) were used for chicken carcass hydrolysis.pH of hydrolysates remained above 13.1 for the entire 10 weeks.Headspace samples had characteristic fish odor due to trimethylamine.Over 17% of the workers exposed to gases for 3 hours daily risk developing serious health risks.Abstract. Animal carcass management is an essential part of a livestock production system. Alkaline hydrolysis is a relatively new disposal method used to digest and break down animal tissues. Despite the effectiveness of inactivating pathogens, alkaline hydrolysis has not been widely accepted as a disposal method because of its high capital and operating costs when done at high temperatures and pressure. The objectives of this research were (1) to test if alkaline solutions at ambient temperature and pressure can be used to hydrolyze poultry carcasses; (2) to quantify target VOCs emitted from carcasses, and (3) to neutralize and aerobically treat hydrolysates to prepare liquid fertilizer. 1 molar (M), 2 M, and 4 M potassium hydroxide solutions were used to hydrolyze chicken carcasses, and the headspace was sampled to quantify target VOCs. The pH of the hydrolysates stayed above 13.1 during the study, which was considered sufficient for eliminating pathogens of concern. Concentrations of target VOCs fluctuated over 10 weeks, and concentrations of trimethylamine (TMA), acetic acid, and propionic acid exceeded their recommended inhalation exposure limits. It was found that more than 17% of the workers exposed to the process headspace gases for 3 h a day would be at a high risk of developing serious chronic health problems. Although the results of this study indicated that chicken carcasses can be hydrolyzed under ambient conditions, they raised concerns about the health risks associated with inhalation exposure to the gases produced during the process. Future studies are needed to adjust daily exposure times depending on the ventilation rates of full-scale alkaline hydrolysis sites. Keywords: Alkaline hydrolysis, Cancer risk, Carcass, Livestock, Solid-phase microextraction.

Health Risk Assessment of Exposure to Some Heavy Metals from Roasted Pork and Goat Meats Sold in Ishaka-Bushenyi Municipality, Uganda

Health Risk Assessment of Exposure to Some Heavy Metals from Roasted Pork and Goat Meats Sold in Ishaka-Bushenyi Municipality, Uganda

Biomarkers in Air Pollution Exposure Health Risk Assessment

Air pollution, a global environmental issue, is comprised of complex mixtures of gases and particulate matter which pose substantial health risks including respiratory diseases and cancer. Biomarkers are measurable indicators of biological processes and are essential for understanding the health impact of air pollution. This study reviews key biomarkers associated with air pollution exposure and their implications for health risk assessment. Inflammatory biomarkers, oxidative stress markers, lung function parameters, and biomarkers of DNA damage emerged as crucial indicators of air pollution-induced health effects. The assessment of air pollution-related biomarkers may be performed using biomonitoring, exposure assessment, oxidative stress assays, genetic and epigenetic analysis, and omics technologies. Challenges and limitations in utilizing biomarkers for assessing health risks linked to air pollution exposure include response variability, specificity, multiple exposure sources, and ethical issues that hinder biomarker research and analysis. Future progress in biomarker detection technologies could involve the integration of multiomics methods, personalized exposure assessment techniques, wearable biosensors, detection of emerging pollutants, and a combination of biomarkers and artificial intelligence tools. Implementing biomarkers in regulatory decisions and public health policies can help mitigate air pollution’s adverse health effects and improve air quality standards.

Health Risk Assessment of Exposures to Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons from Water and Fish Ingestion in Bayelsa State, Nigeria

Health Risk Assessment of Exposures to Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons from Water and Fish Ingestion in Bayelsa State, Nigeria

Hygienic aspects of the implementation of the federal project "clean air" in the Omsk city

The aim of the work was the hygienic assessment of the atmospheric air quality and health risks to the population of Omsk city arising under the influence of chemical pollution of atmospheric air at the current stage of realization of the federal project "Clean Air".&#x0D; Material and methods. For hygienic assessment of atmospheric air quality in the territory of the city of Omsk the results of socio-hygienic monitoring and the national environmental observation system of atmospheric air pollution for the period 2017-2022 were used. Health risk assessment and calculation of the additional number of diseases under the influence of pollutants were carried out in accordance with the Guidelines for health risk assessment of exposure to chemical pollutants (R 2.1.10.3968-23).&#x0D; Results. The volumes of uncaptured air pollutant emissions from stationary sources in 2022 decreased by 21.9% compared to the baseline year 2017, from motor vehicles - by 43.6%. The level of carcinogenic risk was above the permissible value and was assessed as alarming, with an increase of 28.7% between 2017 and 2022. The average annual respiratory hazard index was assessed as high. Comparative analysis of the values of non-carcinogenic risks in 2017 and in 2022 for the population of Omsk showed an increase in harmful effects on the respiratory organs (2.5% increase), the immune system (1.6-fold increase) and the central nervous system (1.7-fold increase). At the same time, the risks to the cardiovascular system decreased, and the overall systemic effect of toxicants was reduced. As a result of long-term chronic excess formaldehyde air pollution, the mean annual population risk over the entire follow-up time was 2377.4 (CI 1802.6-2992.4; 95%) cases of additional respiratory diseases per year detected during primary and repeat patient visits.&#x0D; Conclusion. The advanced achievement of the targets of the Federal Program "Clean Air" on emissions reduction has not yet resulted in a commensurate improvement of the atmospheric air quality from the hygienic point of view. Carcinogenic risks to public health are decreasing, but remain above permissible levels. Non-carcinogenic risks for a number of substances form additional morbidity. It is necessary to develop additional interdepartmental measures to reduce emissions, primarily formaldehyde and benz/a/pyrene, to provide preventive protection of public health, especially vulnerable groups living in the city.

Determination of Fluoride in Gravity Feed System Water and Health Risk Assessment of Exposure to Fluoride among Indigenous People in Sungai Mas, Pahang

Introduction: To determine fluoride levels in gravity feed system water of Sungai Mas Village in Sungai Lembing, Kuantan, and its related potential health risk due to fluoride exposure from drinking water among adult indigenous people in the area. Methods: Adults who have lived in Sungai Mas Village, Pahang, for more than one year and use gravity feed system water as a drinking water source were selected as respondents. A set of questionnaires was used to determine socio-demographic and information on gravity feed system water usage among the respondents. A handheld Fluoride low-range (LR) Color-imeter and a portable pH meter were used to measure fluoride levels and pH in water samples, respectively. A body weight scale was used to measure the weight of respondents. Results: A total of 80 indigenous people in Sungai Mas Village were chosen as respondents. From 80 water samples col-lected, 98.75% had fluoride lower than the Malaysian National Standard for Drinking Water Quality’s permissible level (0.4 – 0.6 mg/L), while 1.25% had a fluoride level within the said level. Fluoride ranged from 0.10 to 0.41 mg/L, while pH ranged from 7.67 to 8.20, meaning 100% of the water samples had pH within the permissible level. The Hazard Quotient (HQ) was less than 1 (HQ &lt; 1). Conclusion: Water samples in the study area had low natural fluoride, which is insufficient to eradicate dental caries. Meanwhile, the value of the hazard quotient suggests that adults in Sungai Mas Village may not be at risk of developing dental and skeletal fluorosis.

Health risk assessment of exposure to benzene, toluene, ethyl benzene, and xylene in shoe industry-related workplaces.

Benzene, toluene, ethyl benzene, and xylene (BTEX) are prevalent pollutants in shoe industry-related workplaces. The aim of this study was to assess exposure to BTEX and their carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic risks in shoe-industry-related workplaces. This study was carried out at different shoe manufactures, small shoe workshop units, shoe markets, and shoe stores in Tabriz, Iran in 2021. Personal inhalation exposure to BTEX was measured using the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) 1501 method. Carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic risks due to inhalation exposure to BTEX were estimated by United States Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA) method based on Mont Carlo simulation. Results showed that the concentrations of benzene and toluene were higher than the threshold limit value (TLV) in both gluing and non-gluing units of shoe manufactures. The total carcinogenic risk (TCR) due to exposure to benzene and ethyl benzene was considerable in all shoe industry-related workplaces. Also, the hazard index (HI) as a non-carcinogenic index was higher than standard levels in all shoe industry-related workplaces. Therefore, shoe industry-related workers are at cancer and non-cancer risks due to exposure to BTEX. Prevention measures need to be implemented to reduce the concentration of BTEX in shoe industry-related workplaces.

Human Health Risk Assessment for Exposure to Heavy Metals via Dietary Intake of Rainbow Trout in the Influence Area of a Smelting Facility Located in Peru.

Abandoned mining-metallurgical sites can significantly impact the environment and human health by accumulating heavy metals in aquatic ecosystems. The water in the sub-basin near an abandoned smelting facility in the city of La Oroya, Peru, is primarily used for pisciculture. The objective of this study was to assess the risk to human health from exposure to heavy metals via dietary intake of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) in the influence area of a smelting facility located in the central Andean region of Peru. The bioconcentration factor, biosediment accumulation factor, and consumption risks were evaluated using the Monte Carlo method. The results showed that the concentrations of elements (Zn > Pb > Cu > As) in rainbow trout muscle did not exceed the maximum limit (ML). However, the water significantly exceeded the ML for Pb in all sectors and As in the lower and middle parts of the river. The concentration of Pb in sediments also significantly exceeded the ML in the upper and lower parts of the river. Consequently, rainbow trout consumption in the study area presents risks to human health due to the bioaccumulation of heavy metals, with a 1.27% carcinogenic risk in samples from the lower part of the river.

Occupational lead exposure health risk assessment and heme biosynthesis: A study on batik artisans in yogyakarta, Indonesia

This study aims to assess dermal and inhalation lead exposure levels among batik industry workers and evaluate noncarcinogenic and carcinogenic health risks associated with lead exposure. We investigate potential relationships between lead exposure (dermal average daily dose and inhalation exposure concentration) and the workers' blood hemoglobin levels (Hb), as well as their urinary ALA (u-ALA) concentrations. Additionally, we explore any possible associations between Hb and u-ALA levels among the workers and identify various factors influencing lead exposure levels. A total of 30 workers were recruited for the study. Interviews and exposure sampling were conducted to measure dermal and inhaled lead exposure. Sample analysis methods include XRF for exposure samples, spectrophotometry for u-ALA, and HiCN colorimetric for Hb. Carcinogenic and noncarcinogenic risk assessments, correlation analysis, as well as ANOVA for factors analysis, were performed. The average dermal exposure dose and inhalation exposure concentration of lead were 6.53 ± 3.2 ng/kg/day and 0.021 ± 0.015 μg/m3, respectively. Hazard Index (HI) values for all workers were below 1 (average: 0.372 ± 0.155), indicating no expected noncarcinogenic health effects due to lead exposure. The average Excess Lifetime Cancer Risk (ELCR) was (5.18 ± 3.84) × 10−8, significantly below acceptable limits. Correlation analysis revealed a significant negative correlation between Hb and u-ALA (r = −0.519, p = 0.058 for male workers and r = −0.531, p = 0.034 for female workers), supporting their use as lead exposure biomarkers. The factors analysis demonstrated a significant impact of working conditions on inhalation exposure (p = 0.018), with outdoor workers experiencing lower lead inhalation. This research provides crucial insights into potential dangers faced by batik workers due to lead exposure, emphasizing the importance of targeted interventions. The strong correlation between Hb and u-ALA indicates their combined effectiveness in detecting lead exposure, even at low levels. The study underscores the significance of outdoor work as a protective measure against inhaling heavy metals, such as lead, present in the air. The assessment of health risks associated with lead exposure in the batik industry lays the groundwork for informed decision-making and interventions to protect workers' well-being, particularly in informal sectors workplaces where health risks are often overlooked.

Health risk assessment of exposure to various vapors and fumes in a factory of automobile manufacturing

This study aimed to comprehensively evaluate the health risk of exposure to various vapors and fumes in a factory of automobile manufacturing. This study was performed in 2021 on 115 workers. Vapors and fumes were gathered by the adsorbent tubes of activated charcoal and mixed cellulose esters (MCE) membrane filter, respectively. The flow rate for vapors and fumes were between 0.05 and 0.20 L per min and 1 to 4 L per min, respectively. After preparing, samples were analyzed. To assess the non-cancer and cancer risk of the pollutants, the method proposed environmental protection agency (EPA) was applied. The total concentration of copper (1.031 ppm), manganese (0.114), and 2-butoxyethanol (91.767 ppm) were found to be higher than The threshold limit values (TLVs). The values of non-cancer risk (HQ) due to exposure to vapors of benzene (6.583), toluene (1.396), ethyl benzene (1.212), xylene (31.148), 2-butoxyethanol (89.302), 2-propanol (4.695), 1,2,3-trimethylbenzene (1.923), copper (2.336), manganese (715.82), aluminum (3.772), and chromium (107.066) were higher than the acceptable limit. Moreover, the estimated LCR for benzene (2.15 × 10−4), ethyl benzene (3.97 × 10−4), vinyl chloride (1.25 × 10−4), and chromium (2.11 × 10−2) were higher than the threshold risk level set by EPA. It is emphasized that preventive measures are performed.

Oral and inhalation bioaccessibility of mercury in contaminated soils and potential health risk to the kidneys and neurodevelopment of children in Taiwan.

Health risk assessments of exposure to mercury (Hg) from soils via ingestion and inhalation are indispensable for Taiwanese people living in the vicinity of Hg-contaminated sites. In this study, anthropogenic soils were collected from various polluted sources in Taiwan. In vitro oral and inhalation bioaccessible fractions of Hg were analyzed to avoid from overestimating the exposure risk. Discrepancies in oral and inhalation bioaccessible levels of Hg in soils were found using different in vitro assays with different pH levels and chemical compositions. The freshly contaminated soil (soil S7) polluted by chlor-alkali production activity sampled before the site was remediated had the highest total Hg concentration of 1346mg/kg, with the highest oral bioaccessibility of 26.2% as analyzed by SW-846 Method 1340 and inhalation bioaccessibility of 30.5% as analyzed by modified Gamble's solution. The lesser extent of aging of Hg in soil S7 increased the Hg availability for humans, which was also found based on results of a sequential extraction procedure. Results of the hazard quotient showed that soil ingestion was the main pathway causing non-carcinogenic risks for children and adults. Children were also exposed to higher risks than were adults due to higher frequencies of hand-to-mouth behaviors and lower body weights. Furthermore, hazard index results adjusted for oral and inhalation bioaccessible Hg were lower than those obtained based on the total Hg content; however, an unacceptable value of the non-carcinogenic risk (> 1) for children living near soil S7 was still observed. This study suggests that children living near sites polluted for a short period of time may suffer potential renal effects regardless of the bioaccessibility. Our findings provide suggestions for decision makers on setting new strategies for managing risks of Hg-contaminated soils in Taiwan.