Distribution and health risk assessment of heavy metals in road dust from an industrial estate in Trinidad, West Indies

Road dust from the Point Lisas Industrial Estate in Trinidad, West Indies was investigated to determine its heavy metal content and the associated health risks. The average concentrations of Cd, Cr, Cu, Mn, Ni, Pb and Zn were 3.44, 37.69, 58.16, 770.69, 35.61, 68.50 and 342.53 mu g/g, respectively. The health risks due to exposure to heavy metals in road dust were assessed based on the US EPA's Health Risk Assessment Model for both carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic effects. The health risk assessment indicated that the ingestion pathway was the main exposure route to heavy metals from road dust; however, HI values suggested no potential health risks to both children and adults. The cancer risks for Cd, Cr and Ni were less than 10(-6) and the resulting exposure was therefore considered low.