Evaluating source-oriented human health risk of potentially toxic elements: A new exploration of multiple age groups division

摘要

Effective source-oriented human health risk assessment (HHRA) for people in different life stages will guide pollution control and risk prevention. This work integrated three receptor models of positive matrix factorization, Unmix, and factor analysis with nonnegative constraints for accurate source-oriented HHRA of potentially toxic elements in 6 age groups of populations (0-＜1 year, 1-＜6 years, 6-＜12 years, 12-＜18 years, 18-＜44 years, and 44+ years). Four sources were identified. Natural source controlled As, Cr, and Ni in dust and soil as well as Pb and Zn in soil. Industrial-traffic emissions contributed most of Cd in dust and soil as well as Pb and Zn in dust. Hg in both dust and soil originated from coal combustion. Construction works contributed more to PTEs in soil than in dust. Noncarcinogenic and carcinogenic risk for both dust and soil changed in similar trends by age. The noncancer risk reduced with increasing age for people below 44 years. Carcinogenic risk of females over 44 years were the highest, while children from 0 to 1 year faced the lowest carcinogenic risk. Among the four origins of PTEs, natural sources contributed most to health risk of PTEs, followed by industrial-traffic sources, construction works, and coal combustion. Based on sequential Gaussian simulation (SGS), the susceptible population and risk areas were identified. Children from 0 to 6 years were identified as susceptible population. The areas with noncancer risk in dust were 19.15 km~2 for O-＜1 year and 3.14 km~2 for children from 1 to ＜6 years, and noncancer risk areas in soil were 30.26 km~2 for 0-＜1 year and 0.85 km~2 for 1-＜6 years. Relevant control and management works were demanded on children from 0 to 6 years and noncancer risk areas.