TY - JOUR
T1 - Sources and human health risks associated with potentially toxic elements (PTEs) in urban dust
T2 - A global perspective
AU - Chen, Li
AU - Fang, Linchuan
AU - Yang, Xing
AU - Luo, Xiaosan
AU - Qiu, Tianyi
AU - Zeng, Yi
AU - Huang, Fengyu
AU - Dong, Faqin
AU - White, Jason C.
AU - Bolan, Nanthi
AU - Rinklebe, Jörg
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2024 The Authors
PY - 2024/5
Y1 - 2024/5
N2 - Long-term exposure to urban dust containing potentially toxic elements (PTEs) poses detrimental impacts on human health. However, studies estimating human health risks in urban dusts from a global perspective are scarce. We evaluated data for twelve PTEs in urban dusts across 59 countries from 463 published articles, including their concentrations, input sources, and probabilistic risks to human health. We found that 34.1 and 60.3% of those investigated urban dusts have been heavily contaminated with As and Cd, respectively. The input of PTEs was significantly correlated with economic structure due to emissions of industrial activities and traffic emissions being the major sources. Based on the Monte Carlo simulation, we found that the mean hazard index below the safe threshold (1.0) could still cause non-negligible risks to human health. Arsenic and Cr were the major PTEs threatening human health, and relatively high risk levels were observed in cities in China, Korea, Chile, Malaysia, and Australia. Importantly, our analysis suggested that PTEs threaten the health of approximately 92 million adults and 280 million children worldwide. Overall, our study provides important foundational understanding and guidance for policy decision-making to reduce the potential risks associated with PTE exposure and to promote sustainable development of urban economies.
AB - Long-term exposure to urban dust containing potentially toxic elements (PTEs) poses detrimental impacts on human health. However, studies estimating human health risks in urban dusts from a global perspective are scarce. We evaluated data for twelve PTEs in urban dusts across 59 countries from 463 published articles, including their concentrations, input sources, and probabilistic risks to human health. We found that 34.1 and 60.3% of those investigated urban dusts have been heavily contaminated with As and Cd, respectively. The input of PTEs was significantly correlated with economic structure due to emissions of industrial activities and traffic emissions being the major sources. Based on the Monte Carlo simulation, we found that the mean hazard index below the safe threshold (1.0) could still cause non-negligible risks to human health. Arsenic and Cr were the major PTEs threatening human health, and relatively high risk levels were observed in cities in China, Korea, Chile, Malaysia, and Australia. Importantly, our analysis suggested that PTEs threaten the health of approximately 92 million adults and 280 million children worldwide. Overall, our study provides important foundational understanding and guidance for policy decision-making to reduce the potential risks associated with PTE exposure and to promote sustainable development of urban economies.
KW - Economic structure
KW - Health risk
KW - Meta-analysis
KW - Potentially toxic elements
KW - Source apportionment
KW - Urban dusts
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85191974919&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.envint.2024.108708
DO - 10.1016/j.envint.2024.108708
M3 - Article
C2 - 38703447
AN - SCOPUS:85191974919
SN - 0160-4120
VL - 187
JO - Environment International
JF - Environment International
M1 - 108708
ER -