Journal
ECOTOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY
Volume 212, Issue -, Pages -Publisher
ACADEMIC PRESS INC ELSEVIER SCIENCE
DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2021.111972
Keywords
Ore processing; Particulate matter; Fallout dust; Oral bioaccessibility; Health risk assessment
Categories
Funding
- Gol-E-Gohar (GEG) Mining and Industrial Company, Iran
- NERC [bgs06003] Funding Source: UKRI
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This study aimed to estimate the distribution, fractionation, and oral bioaccessibility of potentially toxic elements (PTEs) in dust generated by Gol-E-Gohar (GEG) mining and industrial company. Some elements were found to be extremely enriched, but overall the intake of PTEs did not exceed the tolerable daily intake (TDI) values and was not considered a significant risk to workers.
Dust emitted from mining, ore processing, and tailing dumps have direct effects on miners who work close to these operations. The Gol-E-Gohar (GEG) mining and industrial company is one of the most important iron concentrate producers in the Middle East. The objective of the present study was to estimate the distribution, fractionation, and oral bioaccessibility of potentially toxic elements (PTEs) in dust generated by the GEG mining and industrial company. Total PTE content including Al, As, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Hg, Mn, Mo, Ni, Pb, V, and Zn was quantified for suspended particulate matter (PM) in PM2.5 , PM10 , and total suspended particulate matter (TSP). As, Cd, Co, Cu, Fe, Ni, and Pb were quantified in fallout dust samples for oral bioaccessibility using in vitro Unified BARGE (UBM) Method and modified BCR fractionation analysis. Enrichment factors (EF) were calculated for the studied elements in PM; Cu, Fe, and As were found to be extremely enriched. Oral bioaccessibility of selected PTEs in fallout dust samples ranged from 0.35% to 41.55% and 0.06-37.58% in the gastric and intestinal phases, respectively. Regression modeling revealed that the bioaccessibilities of the PTEs could mostly be explained by total concentrations in dust particles. Average daily intake (ADI) calculations revealed that the intake of PTEs did not exceed the tolerable daily intake (TDI) values and as such was not considered a significant risk to workers. Additionally, the hazard quotients (HQ) and carcinogenic risk (CR) values were lower than the acceptable level. This study can provide further risk assessment and management of PTE pollution in occupational environments.
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