Author, as appears in the article.: Mari, Montse; Rovira, Joaquim; Sanchez-Soberon, Francisco; Nadal, Marti; Schuhmacher, Marta; Domingo, Jose L
Department: Enginyeria Química Ciències Mèdiques Bàsiques
URV's Author/s: Domingo Roig, José Luis / Mari Marcos, Montserrat / Nadal Lomas, Martí / Rovira Solano, Joaquim / SÁNCHEZ SOBERÓN, FRANCISCO / Schuhmacher Ansuategui, Marta
Keywords: Spain Soil pollutants Sewage Risk assessment Polychlorinated dibenzodioxins Plants Metals, heavy Humans Environmental pollutants Environmental monitoring Energy-generating resources Dibenzofurans, polychlorinated Chemical industry Air pollutants
Abstract: This study aimed at evaluating the potential impact of a cement plant after 4 years of the employment of alternative fuel. In June 2015, concentrations of PCDD/Fs and metals were determined in soils, vegetation and air in order to measure potential changes with respect to previous surveys before (July 2011) and after (June 2013) the employment of alternative fuel. Risks to human health were also assessed. In soils, metal levels were similar to those observed in June 2013 (p > 0.05). In comparison with July 2011, the increment was only statistically significant for As and Cd (p < 0.05). A notable increase in levels of PCDD/Fs was noted when current levels in soils (1.14 ng WHO-TEQ per kg) were compared with those observed in July 2011 (0.37 ng WHO-TEQ per kg) (p > 0.05) and June 2013 (0.41 ng WHO-TEQ per kg) (p < 0.05). This increase was mainly caused by the increase in PCDD/F levels at one sampling site, which showed the heterogeneity of PCDD/F levels in soils, possibly as a result of different point emissions over the years. On the other hand, temporal trends in levels of metals and PCDD/Fs in vegetation showed a clear decrease, which indicated that the particle fraction of these pollutants would potentially be removed from leaf surfaces by wash-off. In air, levels were similar to those found in previous surveys. The results of PCA showed that the change in fuel had not affected the environmental profiles of metals and PCDD/Fs around the cement plant. The exposure of the population living in the surroundings of the plant was measured and it was shown that diet was the major contributor for both metals and PCDD/Fs, with percentages of over 97%, the only exceptions being As and Pb, for which dietary intake accounted for 43% and 71% of the total exposure, respectively. Environmental non-cancer and cancer risks were within the limits considered as acceptable by international standards.
Thematic Areas: Química Public health, environmental and occupational health Medicine (miscellaneous) Management, monitoring, policy and law Interdisciplinar Geografía General medicine Farmacia Environmental sciences Environmental chemistry Engenharias iv Engenharias iii Engenharias ii Engenharias i Ciências biológicas iii Ciências ambientais Ciências agrárias i Chemistry, analytical Biotecnología Biodiversidade Astronomia / física
licence for use: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/es/
ISSN: 20507887
Author's mail: joaquim.rovira@urv.cat joseluis.domingo@urv.cat marti.nadal@urv.cat montserrat.mari@urv.cat marta.schuhmacher@urv.cat
Author identifier: 0000-0003-4399-6138 0000-0001-6647-9470 0000-0002-0217-4827 0000-0001-8971-3856 0000-0003-4381-2490
Record's date: 2024-10-12
Papper version: info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion
Licence document URL: https://repositori.urv.cat/ca/proteccio-de-dades/
Papper original source: Environmental Science-Processes & Impacts. 19 (7): 917-927
APA: Mari, Montse; Rovira, Joaquim; Sanchez-Soberon, Francisco; Nadal, Marti; Schuhmacher, Marta; Domingo, Jose L (2017). Environmental trends of metals and PCDD/Fs around a cement plant after alternative fuel implementation: human health risk assessment.. Environmental Science-Processes & Impacts, 19(7), 917-927. DOI: 10.1039/c7em00121e
Entity: Universitat Rovira i Virgili
Journal publication year: 2017
Publication Type: Journal Publications
Repositori URV