Primary research on health risk assessment of heavy metals in road dust of Shanghai

The exposure and risk assessment of heavy metals in road dusts for children were carried out by using US EPA Health Risk Assessment Model. 48 road dust samples were collected in cultural and educational area, residential area, and city squares in Shanghai. Concentrations of Zn, Pb, Cu and Cd were more than 6-8 times, Cr and Ni more than 2-3 times higher than the soil background values. Average daily doses of ingestion of dust particles for all the metals were much higher than those of inhalation of re-suspended dust particles and dermal contact with dust particles. The highest levels of risks seemed to be associated with the route of ingestion of dust particles for all the metals. The order of non-cancer hazard indexes of metals was Pb > Cr> Ni > Cu > Zn > Cd, and the order of carcinogen risks of metals was Cr > Ni > Cd. The non-cancer hazard indexes and carcinogen risks of metals were both lower than their threshold values, respectively, which indicated that the adverse health impact on children exposure to metals in road dusts were relatively light in Shanghai.