Pollution and health risk assessment of road dust from Osogbo metropolis, Osun state, Southwestern Nigeria

Abstract

This study assessed pollution and health risk associated with road dust samples collected from major roads in Osogbo metropolis, Osun State, Southwestern Nigeria. Road dust samples were collected from nine major traffic junctions. Soil samples were collected to serve as control. A total of 72 samples were collected and subjected to laboratory assays using standard procedures. The dust and soil samples were analyzed for pH, electrical conductivity, NO₃⁻, SO₄²⁻ and metals. Data obtained were subjected to simple descriptive statistics using SPSS for Windows. Health risk indices of hazard quotient (HQ), hazard index (HI) and cancer risk (CR) were assessed. Pollution assessment was also evaluated. Results showed the metal distributions in the road dust as follows: Zn > Mn > Cu > Pb > Ni > Na > K > Cd > Cr > Co > As > V. The pollution assessment indices presented Cd as the major road dust contaminant in the study area. The health risk assessment of non-carcinogenic effects showed HQ and HI values of metals less than 1.0 for children and adults, indicating no adverse effect but the sum of CR was higher than the permissible limit of 1.0 x 10⁻⁴ in children indicating possible cancer development.

Keywords:

• dust
• cancer
• adverse health
• pollution
• metals
• traffic

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.