Human health impact assessment and temporal distribution of trace elements in Copșa Mică- Romania

The present study aims to analyze the temporal variations of PM(10) and to assess the health risk indexes caused by trace elements from particulate matter (PM(10)) via inhalation, ingestion, and dermal absorption by adults and children in Copșa Mică (Romania) during 2009–2019. The results revealed a high multi-annual mean concentration of PM(10) and trace elements. The analyzed air pollutants showed a decreasing trend during the studied years, therefore 44.11%, 43.48%, 36.07%, 16.02%, and 15.80% lower values were observed for As, Cd, Ni, PM(10), and Pb, respectively, due to environmental regulations. The daily exceedance percentage of Pb and Cd was very high, representing 21.74% and 11.26%, followed by PM(10) and As concentrations with 4.72% and 3.92%. The ratio between the trace element concentration measured in Copșa Mică and the country average was 2.46, 4.01, 2.44 and 10.52 times higher for As, Cd, Ni and Pb. The calculated Hazard Quotient values via inhalation were higher than the safe limit (1), which accounted 1.81, 3.89 and 4.52, for As, Cd and Ni, respectively, indicating that the trace elements might present a non-carcinogenic risk to both adults and children. Furthermore, the concentration of all studied trace elements in Copșa Mică showed cancer risk for adults via inhalation and dermal absorption as well.