Geochemical Approach to Human Health Risk Assessment of Inhaled Trace Elements in the Vicinity of Industrial Enterprises in Tomsk, Russia

ABSTRACT

Human health risks due to exposure of heavy metals in the atmospheric air of Tomsk, Russia, were studied. The concentrations of 22 metals in the ambient air were calculated on the basis of the ICP–MS experimental determination of their contents in the insoluble fraction of snow cover. Non-carcinogenic hazards were estimated for the areas of power plant (“Zone PP”), brickworks location (“Zone BF”), zone influenced by concrete product plants (“Zone CP”), and petrochemical plant suburbs (“Zone PCP”). Manganese, Al, Cu, and Ba make the largest contribution to the integral non-cancer hazard caused by chronic inhalation intake in all areas. Zinc is added to the above listed elements in the “Zone PP” and V, Co, Cr, and Ni in the “Zone BF” are also added. Densely populated residential areas “Zone BF” and “Zone PP” were characterized by the higher levels of diseases risks associated with human inhalation intake of metals in comparison with other areas. The dust load should be primarily decreased in the zones subjected to harmful effects of brick factories and other construction materials. As to the power station, the portion of natural gas in consumption should increase from year to year for decreasing heavy metal emissions from burning of coal.