Assessment of Human Health Risk of Exposure to Ambient Trace Elements in a Highly Polluted Region of China Based on CMAQ Simulations

Based on Models-3/Community Multiscale Air Quality (CMAQ) simulation results in our previous study, we examined the spatial distribution of exposure risk of 6 trace elements in fine particulate matter (PM_2.5) in Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region of China in 2012, which was combined with Chinese exposure factors by using risk evaluation model provided by the Environmental Protection Agency of the United Stated (US. EPA). In addition, the carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic risks of the residents in different ages and genders were assessed. The results showed that the hazard index (HI) for 6 TEs has tends to decrease as the ages of human increase. While, the incremental lifetime cancer risk (ILCR) for TEs has tends to increase as the ages of human increase. Man of the same age have higher HI and ILCR values than women. HI for 6 TEs was lower than 1 for different seasons in BTH region, which indicated the risk of non-carcinogenic can be ignored in BTH region. ILCR for As and Cr (VI) was in the range of 10^-6~10^-4, which indicated that the carcinogenic risks of As and Cr (VI) existed. Carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic risk for TEs in winter were higher than that in other seasons. The areas with higher exposure risks were mainly concentrated in Tangshan, Handan, Shijiazhuang, Tianjin, and Beijing, which was highly consistent with the temporal variations of TEs concentrations. The findings of this study provided valuable implications on the mitigation of the TEs concentrations and the relevant policy making.

*Corresponding author: hztian@bnu.edu.cn (Pro./ Dr. H.Z., Tian); Tel & Fax:86-10-58800176

Acknowledgements: This work is funded by NSFC of China (21777008 and 21377012), MOST of China (2018YFC0213202, 2016YFC0201501) and MEE of China (DQGG0209)