Pollution characteristics, human health risk through multiple exposure pathways, and source apportionment of heavy metals in PM10 at Indo-Gangetic site

This study assesses the heavy metal (Pb, Zn, Ni, Fe, Mn, Cr, Cd, As, Co and Cu) concentrations in PM10 in Agra, India. The analysis of heavy metals was carried out by Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrometer (ICP-MS) after digestion of quartz fiber filter paper. The annual mean concentration for PM10 was 214.61 mu g m(-3) and higher than WHO and NAAQS limit. The results showed mean value of heavy metals followed the order: Fe > Zn > Cr > Mn > Pb > Ni > Cu > Co > As > Cd. The carcinogenic risks of As, Cd, Co, Cr, Pb and Ni for both children and adults via dermal contact and ingestion exposure were within the acceptable level (< 1 x 10(-4)). Co showed potential carcinogenic risk only for adults and Cr for both children and adults via inhalation. The HQ values for Cr, Mn, Fe, Ni, Cu, Zn, As, Pb and Cd via ingestion and dermal contact exposure for both children and adults were all lower than the safe level. The HQ values for Mn, Co, Ni and As to both children and adults via inhalation and for Co to only children via ingestion exposure were higher than the safe level. The source identification was confirmed through enrichment factor (EF), cluster analysis (CA) and principal component analysis (PCA).