Dr. Tume-Zapata, Pedro

The specific objectives of this study were: (1) to establish background content levels of potentially harmful elements in topsoil of Quintero and Puchuncavi districts; (2) to assess the degree of topsoil pollution and identify the local sources of pollution; and (3) to assess the health risk of metal exposure to population. Data from a Chilean Environmental Ministry report were analyzed. Multivariate analysis suggests that the potentially harmful elements are split into two main groups, which can be explained by controlling geogenic (Ni, V and Zn) and anthropogenic (As, Cd, Cu and Pb) factors. The spatial distribution of As, Cd, Cu and Pb displays a spatial pattern around the Puchuncavi-Ventanas industrial park. The background values determined with MAD (median absolute deviation) method include As 31.6 mg kg-1, Cd 0.7 mg kg-1, Cu 296 mg kg-1, Ni 16.9 mg kg-1, Pb 48.6 mg kg-1, V 199 mg kg-1 and Zn 192 mg kg-1. The pollution indices reported considerable contamination to very high contamination in some soil samples. Hazard quotient values were higher for children than for adults, due to the ingestion and dermal absorption, while the cancer risk index values were in the acceptable range.

Attic dusts provide an indirect measure of airborne pollutants deposited in the urban environment. The objectives of this study are: (1) to determine the concentrations of As, Ba, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Mn, Ni, Pb, Sr, V and Zn in attic dust in the City of Coronel, (2) to evaluate the source apportionment of PHE and (3) to assess the risk of health effects from exposure in adults and children. In the City of Coronel, attic dust samples were collected in 19 houses. The concentrations of As, Ba, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Mn, Ni, Pb, Sr, V and Zn were measured in ICP-OES after Aqua Regia digestion of <75 µm dust sample. The median (and the range) concentration (mg kg−1) of potentially harmful elements was: As 16 (7–72), Ba 154 (53–251), Cd 0.8 (0.25–14.5), Co 12, (8–22),Cr 38 (22–482), Cu 107 (44–1641), Mn 698 (364–1245), Ni 51 (24–1734), Pb 66 (18–393), Sr 131 (52–252), V 129 (57–376) and Zn 815 (107–9761). The exploratory data analysis shows that Ni, Cu, Cr, Zn, Pb and As distribution is dominated by anthropogenic sources and characterized by high extreme values. Principal component analysis shows four factors. One factor is geogenic, while the other three factors are associated with transport emissions and the industrial park. The resulting median of cumulative noncarcinogenic risk (HIs) value for attic dust was 3.49 for children. This is significant, as any value greater than one indicates an elevated risk.