Assessment of Human Exposure to Atmospheric Trace Metals in a Residential Area of Cairo, Egypt
Mahmoud A. Hassanien
Air Research and Pollution Control Department, Environmental Protection Research Division, National Research Center, Dokki, Cairo, Egypt
Corresponding author: Mahmoud A. Hassanien
Air Pollution Department, National Research Center
Dokki, Cairo, Egypt
+202 337 0931
Fax number: +202 337 0931
E-mail adress: mahmoud_hassanien@hotmail.com
CEJOEM 2001, Vol.7. Nos.3-4.:253-262
Key words:
Trace metals, air, residential area, exposure monitoring, risk assessment
Abstract:
Emission of trace elements associated with particulate matter is a point of discussion and
care due to their known harmful effects on humans and environment. In order to assess (1) the
current annual and seasonal atmospheric concentrations of trace elements; (2) human exposure to
trace elements using exposure by monitoring and (3) to evaluate the risks associated with the
presence of chemical substances, samples of airborne particulate matter were collected from April
1998 to March 1999 at a sampling site in a thickly populated area (El Abbassia) of Cairo, Egypt.
According to the analytical conditions for each element, various techniques of AAS were used. The
atmospheric concentrations (in ng•m-3) of the measured metals amounted to 13.86, 8.34,
and 11.14 for As; 1.46, 1.44, and 1.45 for Co; 178.22, 87.05 and 132.64 for Cr; 3.37, 8.51, and
5.94 for Hg; 26.00, 20.87, and 23.43 for Ni; 3.40, 3.55, and 3.47 for Se and 75.25, 73.20, and
74.23 for V as winter, summer and annual mean values, respectively. Using available data of present
environmental concentrations for Cairo (especially for air), estimates on human exposure. The
results suggest that exposure to chemical emissions due to traffic enhances the trace metals related risk.
Received: 28 September 2001
Accepted: 29 November 2001
| Back |