Health Risk Assessment of Heavy Metals in Atmospheric PM10 in Kurdistan University of Medical Sciences Campus

Background and In recent years, dust storms have affected many regions in Iran including Kurdistan province. Along with dust other pollutants such as heavy metals may also be transferred which pose a risk to human health. The purpose of this study was to determine heavy metals concentrations in atmospheric PM10 in Sanandaj, Iran and also assessing their health risk on the staff and students in Kurdistan University of Medical Sciences (KUMS). KUMS was chosen as the sampling site and the samples were taken every six days and also on dusty days. Omni air sampler was used to determine the concentration of heavy metals, including arsenic, cadmium, chromium, cobalt, zinc, iron, copper, manganese, and nickel in PM10, from April to September 2013. Health risk assessment of cancerous and noncancerous diseases caused by these heavy metals was carried out using the guideline of United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) for three groups including the staff, students using KUMS accommodation and students resident in other places. The heavy metal with highest concentration was iron which was seen in both dusty and ordinary days. In dusty and ordinary days cadmium was found to have the least concentration in May and September, respectively. The overall risk of cancer for all the studied metals and for the three groups in dusty days was higher than non-dusty days (less than two per one million). Acute and chronic non-cancer risks of studied metals for the three studied groups were less than one. According to the baseline values of cancerous and noncancerous risks provided by the USEPA, it seems that, during the investigation period, the studied metals do not increase the risk of cancer and non-cancer diseases among individuals working and studying in KUMS.