Seasonal source identification and source-specific health risk assessment of pollutants in road dust

Humans who are exposed to metals in road dust may have potential health risks through touching, ingesting, and inhaling the suspended road dust. There were limited studies to link seasonal emission sources to health risks from metals in road dust. In this study, metals in road dust from different functional areas were seasonally monitored. The contributions of the pollutant sources in study areas varied with seasons. By combining the source apportionment model (PMF), road dust emission model, and health risk models (HI: hazard index and ILCR: incremental lifetime carcinogenic risk), industrial and construction activity was identified as the crucial source of both the pollutants in road dust (29-47%), and the HI for adults (27-45%) and children (41-50%) in different seasons. The traffic non-exhaust emission dominated in the carcinogenic risks for children in spring (45%) and summer (36%). Factors such as seasons, particle size, metal bioavailability, human exposure time, and exposure area were all taken into consideration to avoid overestimating or underestimating health risks. The carcinogenic risks for children (1.6 E-06) and adults (2.8 E-06) exposed to Cr both exceed the minimum threshold (10(-6)). It means that the potential risks were acceptable but could not be completely neglected. Measured metals mainly posed hazard to human health through ingestion route. Pb and Mn, Fe and Mn were the main harmful elements that induced non-carcinogenic risks for adults and children, respectively. Effectively identifying the source-specific health risks in different seasons will help in the formulation of adaptive strategies to diminish the potential risks.

Automated summary

This study found that industrial and construction activities are the main sources of metals in road dust, with varying health risks in different seasons. For children, non-exhaust traffic emissions are the main factor contributing to carcinogenic risks in spring and summer. The ingestion route of metals poses the greatest threat to human health.