3.1 Toxic metals concentration in road dust
Concentrations of toxic metals varied significantly among different samples, and the mean and median values of some toxic metals exceeded their background values (Table 1) (Turekian and Wedepohl 1961; Akbor et al. 2020). The mean concentration of Pb, Hg, and Cd were 1.3, 29.3, and 13.2 times higher than that of the respective background concentration, indicating that anthropogenic activities strongly influence on concentration in road dust (Men et al. 2018). However, the mean concentrations of As and Cr have not exceeded the background value.
Table 1
Concentration of toxic metals in the road dust of the study area and reference cities (mg/kg).
|
Pb
|
As
|
Hg
|
Cr
|
Cd
|
|
Mean
|
26.35
|
0.16
|
11.71
|
11.01
|
3.96
|
This study
|
Median
|
12.00
|
0.16
|
11.20
|
8.40
|
4.96
|
Minimum
|
1.08
|
0.13
|
0.01
|
6.36
|
0.15
|
Maximum
|
80.00
|
0.25
|
33.60
|
20.8
|
8.64
|
Background
|
20
|
13
|
0.4
|
90
|
0.3
|
Akbor et al., 2020; Turekian and Wedepohl, 1961
|
Dhaka (Bangladesh)
|
18.9
|
8.1
|
-
|
144.3
|
11.6
|
Rahman et al., 2019
|
Dhaka (Bangladesh)
|
54.26
|
-
|
-
|
114.5
|
-
|
Ahmed and Ishiga, 2006
|
Delhi (India)
|
597.9
|
-
|
-
|
481.9
|
18.9
|
Banerjee, 2003
|
Beijing, China
|
62.29
|
4.08
|
0.26
|
99.50
|
0.51
|
Men et al., 2020
|
Shanghai, China
|
246
|
8.73
|
0.16
|
157
|
1.24
|
Wang et al., 2009
|
Egypt
|
307
|
6.53
|
|
85.7
|
2.98
|
Khairy et al., 2011
|
Shiraz, Iran
|
115.71
|
6.58
|
-
|
67.16
|
0.5
|
Keshavarzi et al., 2015
|
Islamabad, Pakistan
|
104
|
2.9
|
-
|
125
|
5.0
|
Faiz et al., 2012
|
Toronto, Canada
|
182.8
|
-
|
-
|
197.9
|
0.51
|
Nazzal et al., 2013
|
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
|
144.30
|
-
|
-
|
51.78
|
0.70
|
Han et al., 2014
|
Compared with other Megacities, this study showed low Pb, As, and Cr concentrations (Table 1). In contrast only Pb showed a higher value than one previous study on Dhaka City, Bangladesh (Rahman et al. 2019). Contrastingly, the concentration of Hg and Cd showed a significant level higher than other cities, except Cd in Dhaka, Bangladesh (Rahman et al. 2019), and Delhi, India (Banerjee 2003).
Among the toxic metals, most of them showed uneven distribution throughout the study area (Fig. 2). The concentrations of Pb, Hg, and Cr were found to a greater extent in highways at Savar Area (R1–R5), an uncontrolled industrial and populated area (Haque et al. 2021a). However, some part of the highway was surrounded by agricultural fields (R3–R4). On the other hand, the As, Cd, and Hg were found in high concentration ranges in Dhaka City (R6-R13). The population density and human activities in Dhaka City also greater than in other areas (Rahman et al. 2019). The sampling point R5 (Amin Bazar) in the Dhaka–Aricha Highway is the transition point between Savar Upazila and Dhaka City, which is one of the largest waste landfill sites in Bangladesh and the site demonstrates relatively high toxic metals concentration.
3.2 Metals pollution assessment
Based on the pollution assessment results, the Igeo of Pb, As, and Cr revealed that most of the samples were not contaminated (Fig. 3a). According to classification (Table S1), 23% of samples were showed moderately contaminated by Pb. The Igeo of Hg and Cd shows significant toxic metals that were the dominant and key factor of contamination throughout the study area. The Igeo for Hg ranges − 6.42–5.30 and indicating 23%, 31%, and 23% samples were extremely, heavily to extremely, and heavily contaminated by Hg, respectively. Similarly, the Igeo of Cd ranges − 1.58–4.26 and indicating 15%, 38%, 8%, and 8% samples were heavily to extremely, heavily, moderately, and uncontaminated to moderately contaminated, respectively.
The nemerow integrated pollution index (NIPI) indicates how several toxic metals pollute road dust at specific sampling sites by assessing a single metal pollution index (Men et al. 2020). Based on pollution category, index values indicated the severe level of pollution throughout the study area (Yang et al., 2011), where the first quartile (12.11) of the NIPI at all sites was ~ 4 times higher than the maximum criterion (NIPI > 3) and the third quartile (33.27) was ~ 11 times greater than index maximum criterion (Fig. 3b). The majority of the sampling sites showed substantial pollution by toxic metals except for R8 (0.37) and R10 (2.51) (Fig. S1). The mean value of PI was observed highest in the study area for Hg (29.27) followed by Cd (13.21), Pb (1.32), Cr (0.12), and As (0.01) (Fig. 3c). Based on the PI index (Yang et al. 2011), among the studied samples, 23%, 85%, and 70% of sites were strongly polluted by Pb, Hg, and Cd, respectively. On the other hand, the PLI values showed that 38% of sites in the Dhaka-Aricha highway were polluted and exceeded the threshold level (PLI \(\ge\) 1). In contrast, the majority of the samples in Dhaka City were unpolluted (PLI < 1) (Fig. S2). These toxic metals might come from traffic exhaust, tire wear, waste landfill, coal combustion, gasoline, and fertilizer and pesticides (Men et al. 2020; Wang et al. 2020; Guo et al. 2021; Mondal and Singh 2021).
3.3 Ecological Risk Assessment
The assessment of potential ecological risk \({\text{E}}_{\text{r}}^{\text{i}}\) of a single toxic metal shows all of the studied sites were at low ecological risk in the environment for Pb, As, and Cr (\({\text{E}}_{\text{r}}^{\text{i}}\le 40\)) (Fig. 4a). The \({\text{E}}_{\text{r}}^{\text{i}}\) of Hg and Cd demonstrating similar results with Igeo, these toxic metals were key influence factors to cause the potential ecological risk. The primary source of Cd in road dust could be lubricating oil, diesel fuel, and tire wear (Foti et al. 2017; Men et al. 2018). The study area covered by highway and city, a significant number of vehicles continuously pass through the area and have a great possibility to contaminate through Cd by lubricating oil, diesel fuel, tire, and brake wear (Men et al. 2020; Heidari et al. 2021). Similarly, the Hg might be coming from coal combustion and gasoline (Wang et al. 2020), whereas, both the processes are dominated throughout the study area. Among the sampling sites, 84% and 54% samples were at extreme ecological risk for Hg and Cd, respectively, where the values were a significant level higher than the \({\text{E}}_{\text{r}}^{\text{i}}\) extreme risk category (\({\text{E}}_{\text{r}}^{\text{i}}>320)\). On the other hand, 16% of samples shown considerable to moderate ecological risk for Cd pollution. However, previous studies in different countries also found similar Igeo and \({\text{E}}_{\text{r}}^{\text{i}}\) results, such as Muscat (Oman), Beijing (China), Shijiazhuang (China), Baghdad (Iraq), and Egypt (Khairy et al. 2011; Awadh 2015; Men et al. 2018, 2020; Cai and Li 2019; Al-Shidi et al. 2020). Contrastingly, the first and third quartile of PERI were 699 and 2303, respectively, indicates most of the sites were high ecological risk due to toxic metals contamination (Fig. 4b). The PERI values range from 17–2878, demonstrating that 77% of sampling sites were at high ecological risk (PERI > 600), and the values were a significance level higher than this risk index. Among the thirteen sites, one high public gathering site (Teacher-Student Center, Dhaka University, R12) shows considerable high ecological risk (300<PERI≤600), and two other low anthropogenic activity sites (R8 and R10) shows comparatively low ecological risk (PERI≤150) (Fig. S3). The potential ecological risk variation of different sites mostly depend on the localized anthropogenic and other effects.
The NIRI is the new technique for ecological risk assessment, where the integration of NIPI and PERI took place for intensive assessment of study sites. There are basic differences among NIRI, NIPI, and PERI reported in different studies (Men et al. 2020; Heidari et al. 2021).The NIRI values for all samples in the study area ranged from 10.86 to 1702.25. The value for 85% of samples were higher than 320, indicating extreme ecological risk related to studied toxic metals. The first and third quartile of NIRI were 375 and 1329, respectively, indicating sites suffered extreme ecological risk (Fig. 4c). Spatially, the NIRI was higher around Dhaka-Aricha Highway and some locations in Dhaka City (Fig. 4d). Only one site out of 13 was at low risk (NIRI < 40), and another one showed moderate risk (40<NIRI≤80). The difference between NIRI levels and NIPI/PERI levels was significant for all the studied sites. The spatial distribution of risk was systematically related to the spatial intensities of the sources (Fig. 4d, S1 and S3;Xu et al., 2019). Based on NIRI and PERI, most of the sites (81%) may pose significantly high risk on the local ecology due to the toxic metals pollution by road dust.
This study revealed that surrounding environments of the majority of the sampling sites under stress due to the high risk of Pb, Hg, and Cd toxicity. Different indexes showed significant variation in pollution and risk status, although the spatial distribution showed a similar pattern. Among the study area, some sites of Dhaka City and the major portion of Dhaka-Aricha Highway showed significant pollution and ecological risk.
3.4 Source analysis
The EPA PMF 5.0 model was extensively used to assign the pollution sources (Men et al. 2020; Xiao et al. 2020; Guo et al. 2021; Heidari et al. 2021; Zhu et al. 2021). In this study, the PMF model shows three main factors that contributing to the accumulation of toxic metal in the road dust. As shown in Fig. 5a, factor 1 contributed 73.05%, 53.51%, and 37.31% to the concentration of Pb, As, and Cr, respectively. Pb in the road dust might be accumulated from traffic emission (Men et al. 2018; Xiao et al. 2020). The high concentration of Pb might be associated with industrial activity and As pollution from the use of arsenical pesticides, herbicides, and crop desiccants (Bhuiyan et al. 2015). A previous study reported that these metals might have been released in Dhaka City road dust from the industries of motor-vehicle and metal smelting (Rahman et al. 2019). The major portion around Dhaka-Aricha Highway is the agricultural field, where the farmer uses extensive pesticide and fertilizer for crop growth (Ahmed et al., 2016). The Cr could release from lather tanning and basification in tannery industries (Bhuiyan et al. 2011). Several lather industries are located near the Dhaka-Aricha Highway and city. Moreover, factor 1 represents industrial and agricultural activity.
Factor 2 mainly contributed to 85.37% of the total concentration of Cd. The major source of Cd in road dust might be lubricating oil, diesel fuel, tire, and brake wear (Foti et al. 2017; Men et al. 2020; Heidari et al. 2021). The Cd could be released in the environment easily due to the friction between road and tire of vehicles. Similarly, lubricating oil and diesel fuel leakage can contribute Cd in road dust (Men et al. 2018). Therefore, factor 2 indicates traffic emissions. Based on the analysis of Igeo and \({\text{E}}_{\text{r}}^{\text{i}}\), Cd is a significant contributor to road dust pollution and ecological risk.
Factor 3 accounts for 95.43% of the total concentration of Hg with negligible contributions of other toxic metals. The source of Hg might be gasoline and coal combustion (Lu et al. 2009; Wang et al. 2020). Fly ash in the atmosphere with metals might come from coal combustion and be deposited in the road dust (Raja et al. 2014). Many brick kilns and other industries (battery, leather, textile, etc.) are located along the highway and near Dhaka city (Guttikunda et al. 2013; Rahman et al. 2019). On the other hand, gasoline pollution was abundant in Dhaka City (Ahmed and Ishiga 2006), and it could be the significant source of Hg pollution (Lu et al. 2009). The brick kilns have been used coal (~ 80%) as a fuel that might pollute the atmosphere and road dust (Guttikunda et al. 2013). On the other hand, day-by-day, the battery electric vehicles are increasing in Bangladesh, especially in urban and suburban areas (Hasan 2020). It could be released a significant amount of Hg in the environment through battery disposing of the local environment (Hwang et al. 2016). According to the analysis of Igeo and \({\text{E}}_{\text{r}}^{\text{i}}\), Hg demonstrates the highest contributor among other metals and caused substantial pollution and ecological risk. So the factor 3 most likely represents coal combustion and gasoline as the considerable source.
Among the three contributing factors, coal combustion and gasoline contribute (50.14%) (Factor 3) significant content of metals, although traffic exhaust also contributing most (Fig. 5b). Most of the part of this study covered a highway where brick kilns and different industries are dominated, and in the city along the road, we found extensive urbanization. However, the traffic emission (35.26%) (Factor 2) is the second contributor of metals and evenly releases pollutants throughout the study area. The previous study on Dhaka City also speculated the same sources as this study (Ahmed and Ishiga 2006; Rahman et al. 2019). Although factor 1 (14.60%) showed low content, it is also alarming for the people in Dhaka City, especially those who lived along the highway, indicating time to pay attention to the potential exposure to toxic metal content road dust and consequent health risk.
3.5 Health risk assessment
Human health risk assessment of toxic metals in the road dust through three exposure pathways (ingestion, inhalation, and dermal contact) was analyzed for children and adults (Table 2). For non-carcinogenic risk, this study revealed that the ingestion of road dust appeared to be the primary exposure route for toxic metals to both age groups, followed by dermal contact and inhalation, respectively (Table 2). Similar results were also reported in many other scientific works (Dehghani et al. 2017; Rahman et al. 2019; Heidari et al. 2021; Yesilkanat and Kobya 2021). Both age groups showed the highest ADIing, ADIinh and ADIdermal for Pb, and lowest ADIing and ADIinh for As, although the lowest ADIdermal was found for Cd. The hazard quotient (HQ), also known as non-carcinogenic risk for children and adults, was calculated based on reference dose (RfD) and average daily intake (ADI) of every metal. The HQ values for children and adults were found in the following order of HQing > HQdermal > HQinh and HQdermal > HQing > HQinh, respectively. Therefore, the result suggested that inhalation of road dust almost negligible compared to ingestion and dermal contact. The HQ order suggested that adults are more susceptible to dermal contact of road dust than children; a previous study in Dhaka City also reported similar findings (Rahman et al. 2019). This study found HQdermal > 1 in adult groups for Hg indicating potential non-carcinogenic effects for dermal contact of road dust (USEPA 2004). On the other hand, the HI for all analyzed toxic metals of road dust for both age groups showed the following descending order of Hg > Cd > Cr > Pb > As. Based on non-carcinogenic effects, it was found that Hg showed a high HI (1.06) at the maximum limit than the safe level (HI < 1) for children. Similarly, Hg and Cd showed higher HI values at maximum, mean, and 95% upper confidence limit than the safe level (1) for adults. This study finding suggested that if children lived around the Dhaka-Aricha Highway and contacted with the road dust at a significant level, then the children might be suffered from impairment of the developing central nervous system, as well as pulmonary and nephrotic damage due to mercury contamination (Counter and Buchanan 2004). Similarly, adult peoples who live close to the study area might be significantly exposed to road dust and suffered from various diseases of the brain, heart, lungs, kidneys, immune system disorder (e.g., neurological, immunological, nephrological) reproductive, cardiac, motor, and even genetic problems due to Hg poisoning (Kim et al. 2016); and also skeletal damage (osteoporosis), severe kidney damage, chronic renal failure due to Cd pollution (Haque et al. 2021b). This study also demonstrated that the maximum HIs values for Pb, As, and Cr are close to the safe limit (1) (USEPA 2004), indicating that these metals might have contributed to non-cancer risk in both age groups.
Table 2
Non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic health risk assessment results
Element
|
|
Non-carcinogenic Risks
|
Carcinogenic Risks
|
Child
|
HI
|
Adult
|
HI
|
Child
|
CR
|
Adult
|
CR
|
Ding
|
Dinh
|
Ddermal
|
HQing
|
HQinh
|
HQdermal
|
Ding
|
Dinh
|
Ddermal
|
HQing
|
HQinh
|
HQdermal
|
|
CRing
|
CRinh
|
CRdermal
|
|
CRing
|
CRinh
|
CRdermal
|
|
Pb
|
Max
|
6.72E-04
|
2.82E-07
|
2.82E-05
|
1.92E-01
|
8.00E-05
|
5.38E-02
|
2.46E-01
|
7.20E-05
|
7.41E-07
|
2.01E-04
|
2.06E-02
|
2.11E-04
|
3.83E-01
|
4.04E-01
|
5.71E-06
|
1.18E-08
|
2.4E-10
|
5.73E-06
|
6.12E-07
|
3.11E-08
|
1.71E-09
|
6.45E-07
|
|
Min
|
8.40E-06
|
3.52E-09
|
3.53E-07
|
2.40E-03
|
1.00E-06
|
6.72E-04
|
3.07E-03
|
9.00E-07
|
9.27E-09
|
2.51E-06
|
2.57E-04
|
2.63E-06
|
4.79E-03
|
5.05E-03
|
7.14E-08
|
1.48E-10
|
3E-12
|
7.16E-08
|
7.65E-09
|
3.89E-10
|
2.14E-11
|
8.06E-09
|
|
mean
|
2.21E-04
|
9.28E-08
|
9.30E-06
|
6.33E-02
|
2.64E-05
|
1.77E-02
|
8.10E-02
|
2.37E-05
|
2.44E-07
|
6.63E-05
|
6.78E-03
|
6.94E-05
|
1.26E-01
|
1.33E-01
|
1.88E-06
|
3.9E-09
|
7.9E-11
|
1.89E-06
|
2.02E-07
|
1.03E-08
|
5.63E-10
|
2.12E-07
|
|
95% UCL
|
2.30E-04
|
9.63E-08
|
9.65E-06
|
6.57E-02
|
2.74E-05
|
1.84E-02
|
8.41E-02
|
2.46E-05
|
2.53E-07
|
6.88E-05
|
7.04E-03
|
7.20E-05
|
1.31E-01
|
1.38E-01
|
1.95E-06
|
4.05E-09
|
8.2E-11
|
1.96E-06
|
2.09E-07
|
1.06E-08
|
5.85E-10
|
2.21E-07
|
As
|
Max
|
2.10E-06
|
8.80E-10
|
2.65E-06
|
7.00E-03
|
2.92E-06
|
2.15E-02
|
2.85E-02
|
2.25E-07
|
2.32E-09
|
1.89E-05
|
7.50E-04
|
7.70E-06
|
3.59E-02
|
3.67E-02
|
3.15E-06
|
1.32E-08
|
9.69E-06
|
1.29E-05
|
3.38E-07
|
3.48E-08
|
6.9E-05
|
6.94E-05
|
|
Min
|
1.09E-06
|
4.58E-10
|
1.38E-06
|
3.64E-03
|
1.52E-06
|
1.12E-02
|
1.48E-02
|
1.17E-07
|
1.20E-09
|
9.81E-06
|
3.90E-04
|
4.00E-06
|
1.87E-02
|
1.91E-02
|
1.64E-06
|
6.87E-09
|
5.04E-06
|
6.68E-06
|
1.76E-07
|
1.81E-08
|
3.59E-05
|
3.61E-05
|
|
mean
|
1.38E-06
|
5.77E-10
|
1.73E-06
|
4.59E-03
|
1.92E-06
|
1.41E-02
|
1.87E-02
|
1.47E-07
|
1.52E-09
|
1.24E-05
|
4.92E-04
|
5.04E-06
|
2.35E-02
|
2.40E-02
|
2.06E-06
|
8.65E-09
|
6.35E-06
|
8.42E-06
|
2.21E-07
|
2.28E-08
|
4.52E-05
|
4.55E-05
|
|
95% UCL
|
1.55E-06
|
6.50E-10
|
1.96E-06
|
5.17E-03
|
2.16E-06
|
1.59E-02
|
2.11E-02
|
1.66E-07
|
1.71E-09
|
1.39E-05
|
5.54E-04
|
5.69E-06
|
2.65E-02
|
2.71E-02
|
2.33E-06
|
9.76E-09
|
7.16E-06
|
9.49E-06
|
2.49E-07
|
2.57E-08
|
5.1E-05
|
5.13E-05
|
Hg
|
Max
|
1.98E-04
|
8.31E-08
|
8.33E-06
|
6.61E-01
|
9.70E-04
|
3.97E-01
|
1.06E + 00
|
2.12E-05
|
2.19E-07
|
5.93E-05
|
7.08E-02
|
2.55E-03
|
2.83E + 00
|
2.90E + 00
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
|
Min
|
8.40E-08
|
3.52E-11
|
3.53E-09
|
2.80E-04
|
4.11E-07
|
1.68E-04
|
4.49E-04
|
9.00E-09
|
9.27E-11
|
2.51E-08
|
3.00E-05
|
1.08E-06
|
1.20E-03
|
1.23E-03
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
|
mean
|
9.84E-05
|
4.12E-08
|
4.13E-06
|
3.28E-01
|
4.81E-04
|
1.97E-01
|
5.25E-01
|
1.05E-05
|
1.09E-07
|
2.94E-05
|
3.51E-02
|
1.27E-03
|
1.40E + 00
|
1.44E + 00
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
|
95% UCL
|
9.85E-05
|
4.13E-08
|
4.14E-06
|
3.28E-01
|
4.82E-04
|
1.97E-01
|
5.26E-01
|
1.05E-05
|
1.09E-07
|
2.95E-05
|
3.52E-02
|
1.27E-03
|
1.40E + 00
|
1.44E + 00
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
Cr
|
Max
|
1.69E-04
|
7.07E-08
|
7.09E-06
|
5.62E-02
|
2.47E-03
|
1.18E-01
|
1.77E-01
|
1.81E-05
|
1.86E-07
|
5.05E-05
|
6.03E-03
|
6.51E-03
|
8.41E-01
|
8.54E-01
|
8.44E-05
|
2.97E-06
|
-
|
8.73E-05
|
9.04E-06
|
7.82E-06
|
-
|
1.69E-05
|
|
Min
|
5.34E-05
|
2.24E-08
|
2.24E-06
|
1.78E-02
|
7.83E-04
|
3.74E-02
|
5.60E-02
|
5.73E-06
|
5.89E-08
|
1.60E-05
|
1.91E-03
|
2.06E-03
|
2.67E-01
|
2.70E-01
|
2.67E-05
|
9.41E-07
|
-
|
2.77E-05
|
2.86E-06
|
2.48E-06
|
-
|
5.34E-06
|
|
mean
|
9.25E-05
|
3.88E-08
|
3.88E-06
|
3.08E-02
|
1.36E-03
|
6.47E-02
|
9.69E-02
|
9.91E-06
|
1.02E-07
|
2.77E-05
|
3.30E-03
|
3.57E-03
|
4.61E-01
|
4.68E-01
|
4.62E-05
|
1.63E-06
|
-
|
4.79E-05
|
4.96E-06
|
4.28E-06
|
-
|
9.24E-06
|
|
95% UCL
|
1.16E-04
|
4.87E-08
|
4.88E-06
|
3.87E-02
|
1.70E-03
|
8.13E-02
|
1.22E-01
|
1.24E-05
|
1.28E-07
|
3.47E-05
|
4.15E-03
|
4.48E-03
|
5.79E-01
|
5.88E-01
|
5.8E-05
|
2.04E-06
|
-
|
6.01E-05
|
6.22E-06
|
5.38E-06
|
-
|
1.16E-05
|
Cd
|
Max
|
7.26E-05
|
3.04E-08
|
3.05E-06
|
7.26E-02
|
3.04E-05
|
3.05E-01
|
3.78E-01
|
7.78E-06
|
8.01E-08
|
2.17E-05
|
7.78E-03
|
8.01E-05
|
2.17E + 00
|
2.18E + 00
|
2.76E-05
|
1.92E-07
|
-
|
2.78E-05
|
2.96E-06
|
5.04E-07
|
-
|
3.46E-06
|
|
Min
|
1.26E-06
|
5.28E-10
|
5.29E-08
|
1.26E-03
|
5.28E-07
|
5.29E-03
|
6.55E-03
|
1.35E-07
|
1.39E-09
|
3.77E-07
|
1.35E-04
|
1.39E-06
|
3.77E-02
|
3.79E-02
|
4.79E-07
|
3.33E-09
|
-
|
4.82E-07
|
5.13E-08
|
8.76E-09
|
-
|
6.01E-08
|
|
mean
|
3.33E-05
|
1.40E-08
|
1.40E-06
|
3.33E-02
|
1.40E-05
|
1.40E-01
|
1.73E-01
|
3.57E-06
|
3.67E-08
|
9.96E-06
|
3.57E-03
|
3.67E-05
|
9.96E-01
|
1.00E + 00
|
1.27E-05
|
8.79E-08
|
-
|
1.27E-05
|
1.36E-06
|
2.31E-07
|
-
|
1.59E-06
|
Since Pb, As, Cr and Cd, are classified as class I cancer-causing agents (IARC 2011), carcinogenic risk (CR) is evaluated based on the concentration of these toxic metals. Lifetime exposure to carcinogenic agents can develop any type of cancer in an individual (Haque et al. 2021a). This study could not consider Hg, Cd (dermal), and Cr (dermal) for risk assessment due to the unavailable of cancer slope factor (SF0) values. The results of cancer risk for possible exposure pathways are shown in Table 1. The average CR values of three exposure routes have been suggested that ingestion for children and dermal contact for adults is the most significant routes for cancer risk. The average CR values for children and adults were found in following order of Cr (4.79E-05) > Cd (1.27E-05) > As (8.42E-06) > Pb (1.89E-06) and As (4.55E-05) > Cr (9.24E-06) > Cd (1.59E-06) > Pb (2.12E-07), respectively. This study revealed that the average CR values of all toxic metals (except Pb for adults) in road dust were fallen within the range of acceptable or tolerable cancer risk (10− 6 to 10− 4) (USEPA 2011b). The CR of Pb for adults was (range: 8.06E-09–6.45E-07) lower than no cancer risk value (< 10− 6), which indicates the adults would pose negligible cancer risk due to Pb pollution. Regarding the cancer risk, this study observed that the maximum CRs level of Cr for children and As for adults was very close to unacceptable cancer risk (10− 4) which suggested that local inhabitants might pose significant cancer risk if they expose continuously to road dust. A previous study on road dust in Dhaka City also focused on Cr and As induced cancer risk for inhabitants (Rahman et al. 2019). Therefore, it could be suggested that As, Cr and Cd in road dust of Dhaka City and Dhaka-Aricha Highway pose a detrimental threat of cancer risk.