Characterization of Human Health Risks from Particulate Air Pollution in Selected European Cities

Abstract

The objective of the current study was to estimate health risk indexes caused by the inhalation of particulate matter (PM) by adult males and children using data sampled in three European cities (Athens, Kuopio, Lisbon). Accordingly, the cancer risk (CR) and the hazard quotient (HQ) were estimated from particle-bound metal concentrations whilst the epidemiology-based excess risk (ER), the attributable fraction (AF), and the mortality cases were obtained due to exposure to PM10 and PM2.5. CR and HQ were estimated using two methodologies: the first methodology incorporated the particle-bound metal concentrations (As, Cd, Co, Cr, Mn, Ni, Pb) whereas the second methodology used the deposited dose rate of particle-bound metals in the respiratory tract. The indoor concentration accounts for 70% infiltration from outdoor air for the time activity periods allocated to indoor environments. HQ was lower than 1 and the cumulative CR was lower than the acceptable level (10−4), although individual CR for some metals exceeded the acceptable limit (10−6). In a lifetime the estimated number of attributable cancer cases was 74, 0.107, and 217 in Athens, Kuopio, and Lisbon, respectively. Excess risk-based mortality estimates (due to outdoor pollution) for fine particles were 3930, 44.1, and 2820 attributable deaths in Athens, Kuopio, and Lisbon, respectively.