The existence of industrial companies operating in Maros Regency deserves attention because a number of factories, especially near settlements, are considered to be still lacking in concern for environmental friendliness and public health concern on heir operation. Especially for pollution such as cement factory dust that obviously pollutes the surrounding environment, although a class action (lawsuit) has not been carried out due to the knowledge limitation among communities to against those factories that are indicated source of pollutant. The results of this research and risk analysis calculations are in fact found the potential hazard and risks both for ecology and human health that presented in the following discussion;
Particulate Matter (PM 2.5) in Ambient Air near Schools and in Settlement
The emission of ambient air pollution by industry is highly dependent on the type of industry and the process. One of the industries that contribute to air pollution is the cement industry. Atmospheric or ambient emissions associated with cement production include suspended dust, anhydrides, furans, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and metals adhering to volatile particles. Large amounts of dust are emitted at almost every stage of the cement manufacturing process, from extracting the main raw material, limestone, to packing and shipping cement from factories. Cement dust comes in various sizes and shapes, for example particulates with a diameter of less than 2.5 m and 10 m (PM2.5 and PM10). [5]
In this study, we measured particulate matter (PM) 2.5 from 23 points to observe the quality ambient air, it showed that the highest concentrations were in three sites, namely 0.490, 0.466 and 0.455 mg/m3. These three areas are located in open areas and close to the main sources of pollution and located not far from schools and dwelling. The amount of concentration exceeds the standard PP No. 41 of 1999, PM2.5 by 65 g/m3 or 0.065 mg/m3. This fact of course causes by the accumulation of PM2.5 in the air which has the potential to disrupt the health of children who are mostly in school locations and also residential areas. [10] [11]
Based on WHO Statistics [1], air pollution causes 7 million deaths through indoor and outdoor pollution. The most worrying and striking impact of air pollution is the increasing number of premature deaths in school-age children due to exposure to airborne particles that endanger children's health, such as PM 2.5. The size of the PM 2.5 allows it to penetrate deep into the lungs. Exposure to PM 2.5 in a short time is enough to cause problems with the eyes, nose, throat, lung irritation, coughing, sneezing, runny nose and shortness of breath. PM 2.5 can also impair lung function and worsen asthma and heart disease [11]. A study also published in The Journal of Investigative Medicine revealed that PM 2.5 increases the risk of mouth cancer particularly among children and young age. [12]
Furthermore, according to WHO, PM2.5 resulting from incomplete combustion was found as a major contributing cause lead to worse air quality with generate adverse effects on health as well as bad polluted climate surround. This study in fact shows that exposure to PM10 and PM2.5 will increase the risk of respiratory health disturbance and can induce formation of micronucleus among children who live near the site of industrial activity. A study in addition indicated that exposure to PM2.5 high concentrations increase the risk of both acute and chronic respiratory health problems of elementary school children who live near cement industry activity areas [1, 13–15] as particle PM2.5 exposure can lead to micronucleus formation in children.
Although the average concentration of PM2.5 was (29.34 g/m3), still below the quality standard value according to Government Regulation No. 41 of 1999 (65 g/Nm3), it accumulate due to the frequently and long period exposure will potentially generate complicated diseases. As described that, there is an increase in real time intake, 3 years and 12 years, respectively 7.53x10− 5, 1.25x10− 4, 5.02x10− 4mg/kg/day, respectively. PM2.5 intake was high among students with low body weight compared to students with bigger body weight. [16]
Particulate Matter (PM 2.5) on Surface Soil
Sources of dust, both PM 2.5 and PM10, which are around the school near the cement industrial area, apart from emissions from industrial activities, also come from the ground surface and asphalt roads where dust particles accumulate from the air. The number of passing vehicles will be lifted and spread so that it will be inhaled by school children who are in the area. This study found that many school children were directly exposed to dust, especially PM. 10 and PM 2.5, especially for schools which are very close to the industry, are often crossed by large trucks carrying goods, and soil dust is also lifted due to vehicular traffic. In addition, the traces of soil on the asphalt immediately spread in all directions, including the school environment. Based on research on health effects on the population living in the cement factory area in Italy.
Researchers grouped the age groups of adults (> 34 years) and children (0–14 years). The result is that children become a more risky age group, from the association of factory emissions and hospitalization for cardiovascular and respiratory problems. (6) Another study, namely the analysis of PM2,5 and respiratory disorders in elementary school children showed that the results of the cohort study during One month to 142 elementary school children in Palembang City showed that 38.9 percent of children experienced respiratory tract disorders in the form of cough, runny nose with fever or no fever during the observation.
On this study, the highest polluted areas were located at the station near the Jabal Rahmah Mosque Maccini Baji Village, with a concentration of (2876), then Mattoangin area (2358) and in Dusun Manarang, Tukamasea (2158). On the other hand, the lowest were in Pajjaiyang Hamlet (1083), Bungaeja Village, Tukamasea (1190), and Ammansangeng, Baruga (1263), respectively.
Similarly, an increase of 10 g/m3 PM2.5 will increase deaths from cardiovascular causes by 0.63% and deaths from respiratory disorders by 0.75%. If exposed to PM10 for a long time the risk of death will increase to 67%. Another study, namely the analysis of PM2.5 and respiratory disorders in elementary school children showed that the results of a one-month cohort study of 142 elementary school children in Palembang City showed that 38.9 percent of children experienced respiratory disorders in the form of coughs, runny noses with fever or not. fever during observation.The distributions of PM2.5 dust particles diameter show a stable 12.27 % weight percentage of total dust weight from 0.4 to 2.1 PM25 has been studied at residence area around the cement factory, Citeureup. In addition, research in Tangará da Serra found a potential average dose of PM2.5 was 1.95 µg/kg.day (95% CI: 1.62–2.27) during dry scenario and 0.32 µg/kg.day (95% CI: 0.29–0.34) in the rainy scenario. Children and adolescents showed a toxicological risk to PM2.5 of 2.07 µg/kg.day (95% CI: 1.85–2 .30) in dry season. [17–18].
The settled particulate dust (PM 2.5) may contain a higher proportion of particulate matter than is present in the air. Several studies show that workers who are exposed to respiratory dust (PM2.5 dust) are more likely to experience impaired lung function with a percentage of > 50% [19, 20]. Hastiti's research [21] on employees of PT X, South Kalimantan and Marpaung on permanent traders at the Depok City Integrated Terminal also shows that there is a significant relationship between PM2.5 exposure and impaired lung function. [22, 23]
Ecological and Health Risk Analysis
Calculation of the value of ecological risk for inhalation by air or dermally through skin contact shows a number that far exceeds the second standard, namely > 1. This indicates that both the environment and the health of children in the study area are at risk of being contaminated and suffering from illness due to exposure to PM 2.5 within a certain period. The main cause of the high risk of exposure is the proximity of schools and residential areas to the cement industry, as well as the number of passing vehicles which causes a lot of dust particles on the ground surface that accumulate to fly so that they are inhaled or attached to the skin. Related research on exposure to high concentrations of particulate matter exceeding the WHO standard value limits in the school environment for students affected by the location of schools near highways with high traffic density was also found in Hong Kong. [24].
The findings are similar to the results obtained in Maros, Indonesia. A similar study regarding the Risk Analysis of PM 2.5 Exposure in Ambient Daylight on Communities in the Cement Industrial Area in Padang City with RQ > 1 and the results of the calculation of the risk that are accepted for life (lifetime) show that there are three risk areas with an RQ value > 1, namely Ring 2 (500-1,000 m), Ring 4 (1,500-2,000 m), and Ring 5 (2,000–2,500 m). The safest area that can be inhabited by the community in the cement industrial area is above 2.5 km from the industrial center with a concentration of 0.028 mg/m3. PM 2.5 particulates < 2.5µm in diameter are more at risk than PM 10µm. These particulates can enter through the lungs to get to the alveoli. The reference concentration value (RfC) for PM2.5 has not been found in the Integrated Risk Information System (IRIS) or Minimum Risk Level (MRL) table, so the reference concentration value for PM2.5 is sought based on the primary standard (primary standard) National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS) for PM2.5 is 5 g/m3 or 0.005 mg/m3 (annual arithmetic mean). [25–27]