Risk assessment of exposure to particulate output of a demolition site

• Published in: Environmental geochemistry and health 2015-08, Vol.37 (4), p.675-687
• Main Authors: Brown, A, Barrett, J. E. S, Robinson, H, Potgieter-Vermaak, S
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Air quality; Airborne particulates; Aluminum; arsenic; barium; buffering capacity; cadmium; calcium; Child; children; Chromium; Construction Materials - analysis; copper; Demolition; Dust - analysis; Earth and Environmental Science; Environment; Environmental Chemistry; Environmental Exposure - analysis; Environmental Health; Environmental Monitoring - methods; Environmental Pollutants - analysis; Environmental Pollutants - toxicity; exposure assessment; Geochemistry; Health hazards; Health risks; human health; Humans; Hydrologic data; iron; Leaching; lead; magnesium; manganese; Metals - analysis; Metals - toxicity; meteorological data; nickel; Original Paper; Outdoor air quality; Particle Size; particles; Particulate Matter - analysis; potassium; Public Health; Rain; risk; Risk Assessment; silicon; sodium; Soil Science & Conservation; sulfur; Terrestrial Pollution; tin; titanium; United Kingdom; vanadium; zinc
• ISSN: 0269-4042; 1573-2983
• DOI: 10.1007/s10653-015-9747-3

Whilst vehicular and industrial contributions to the airborne particulate budget are well explored, the input due to building demolition is relatively unknown. Air quality is of importance to human health, and it is well known that composition of airborne particles can have a significant influence on both chronic and acute health effects. Road dust (RD) was collected before and after the demolition of a large building to elucidate changes in elemental profile. Rainfall and PM₁₀ mass concentration data aided interpretation of the elemental data. Quantification of Al, As, Ba, Ca, Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, K, Mg, Mn, Na, Ni, Pb, Rh, S, Si, Sn, Ti, V and Zn was carried out. It was found that only Al, K, Mg, Si and S increased in concentration across all size fractions after the building demolition. Risk assessment was then carried out on elements with applicable reference dose values to assess the potential health risks due to the demolition. Significant risk to children was observed for chromium and aluminium exposure. PM₁₀, monitored 40 metres from the demolition site, indicated no abnormal concentrations during the demolition; however, rainfall data were shown to affect the concentration of PM₁₀. The elemental data observed in this study could possibly indicate the role of increased sulphur concentrations (in this case as a result of the demolition) on the buffer capacity of RD, hence leaching metals into rainwater.