Objectives To determine concentrations of PM10, mercury and lead in indoor air of homes, water sources and soil in municipalities near mining operations. Method 6 points were evaluated in areas of influence and 2 in control areas. For measurements of indoor air, we used the NIOSH 600 method (PM10), NIOSH 6009 (mercury) and NIOSH 7300 (lead). For water analysis we used the IDEAM Guide for monitoring discharges. For soil analysis, we used the cold vapor technique (mercury) and atomic absorption (lead). Results In almost all selected households, the average PM10 and mercury concentrations in indoor air exceeded applicable air quality standards. Concentrations of lead were below standard levels. In all water sources, high concentrations of lead were found and in some places within the mining areas, high levels of iron, aluminum and mercury were also found. In soil, mercury concentrations were below the detection level and for lead, differences between the monitored points were observed. Conclusions The results do not establish causal relationships between mining and concentration of these pollutants in the evaluated areas because of the multiplicity of sources in the area. However, such studies provide important information, useful to agents of the environmental health system and researchers. Installation of networks for environmental monitoring to obtain continuous reports is suggested.

Download full-text PDF

Source
http://dx.doi.org/10.15446/rsap.v18n1.55384DOI Listing

Publication Analysis

Top Keywords

indoor air
12
pm10 mercury
8
water sources
8
evaluated areas
8
mercury concentrations
8
concentrations lead
8
mercury
6
lead
6
air
5
areas
5

Similar Publications

Increasing evidence demonstrates a robust link between environmental pollutants and allergic reactions, with air and indoor pollution exacerbating respiratory allergies and climate change intensifying seasonal allergies. Comprehensive action, including government regulations, public awareness, and individual efforts, is essential to mitigate pollution's impact on allergies and safeguard public health and ecological balance. Recent findings indicate a strong correlation between environmental pollutants and allergic reactions, with air pollution from vehicular emissions and industrial activities exacerbating respiratory allergies like asthma and allergic rhinitis.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Indoor Environment and Health Effects: Protocol of an Exploratory Panel Study among Young Adults in China (China IEHE Study).

Environ Health (Wash)

January 2025

Department of Occupational and Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health, Peking University, Beijing 100191, China.

Indoor environment and health have drawn public attention worldwide. However, the joint health effects and mechanisms of exposure to different types of indoor environmental factors remain unclear. We established an exploratory panel study on indoor environment and health effects among young adults in China (the China IEHE Study) to comprehensively investigate 3M issues, including multiple indoor environmental factors, multiple health effects, and multiple omics methods for mechanism exploration.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Protocol for the enhanced management of multimorbid patients with COPD and severe asthma: role of indoor air quality.

BMJ Open Respir Res

January 2025

Fundació de Recerca Clínic Barcelona - Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (FRCB-IDIBAPS), Barcelona, Spain.

Introduction: Reducing unplanned hospital admissions in chronic patients at risk is a key area for action due to the high healthcare and societal burden of the phenomenon. The inconclusive results of preventive strategies in patients with chronic obstructive respiratory disorders and comorbidities are explainable by multifactorial but actionable factors.The current protocol (January 2024-December 2025) relies on the hypothesis that intertwined actions in four dimensions: (1) management change, (2) personalisation of the interventions based on early detection/treatment of acute episodes and enhanced management of comorbidities, (3) mature digital support and (4) comprehensive assessment, can effectively overcome most of the limitations shown by previous preventive strategies.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Tuning multi-scale pore structures in carbonaceous films via direct ink writing and sacrificial templates for efficient indoor formaldehyde removal.

J Hazard Mater

January 2025

Key Laboratory of Coastal Urban Resilient Infrastructures (Ministry of Education), College of Civil and Transportation Engineering, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518060, China; Beijing Key Laboratory of Indoor Air Quality Evaluation and Control, Department of Building Science, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China; State Key Laboratory of Intelligent Geotechnics and Tunnelling, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518060, China; State Key Laboratory of Subtropical Building and Urban Science, Shenzhen 518060, China; Key Laboratory of Eco Planning & Green Building (Tsinghua University), Ministry of Education, Beijing 100084, China. Electronic address:

The primary challenges impeding the extensive application of adsorption for indoor air purification have been low efficiency and effective capacity. To fill the research gap, we developed carbonaceous net-like adsorption films featuring multi-scale porous structures for efficient indoor formaldehyde removal. By optimizing the interfacial mass transfer and internal diffusion, we designed macro- to mesoscale meshes on the film surface and micro- to nano-scale pores within the materials, which were achieved by direct-ink-writing (DIW) printing and sacrificial template methods, respectively.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Efficient CO2 capture at concentrations between 400-2000 ppm is essential for maintaining air quality in a habitable environment and advancing carbon capture technologies. This study introduces NICS-24 (National Institute of Chemistry Structures No. 24), a Zn-oxalate 3,5-diamino-1,2,4-triazolate framework with two distinct square-shaped channels, designed to enhance CO2 capture at indoor-relevant concentrations.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Want AI Summaries of new PubMed Abstracts delivered to your In-box?

Enter search terms and have AI summaries delivered each week - change queries or unsubscribe any time!