Levels of metals and PCDD/Fs in the vicinity of a cement plant: Assessment of human health risks

Abstract

In April 2009, a cement plant located in Sant Feliu de Llobregat (Catalonia, NE Spain) stopped its normal operations. To establish the environmental impact of the facility and the health risks for the population living in the neighbourhood, the concentrations of a number of metals and polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans (PCDD/Fs) were determined in soil, vegetation and air samples in three different surveys, which were carried out before and after the facility stopped the cement production. The influence of the cement plant was found to be low in comparison with other potential emission sources in the area, as no decrease in the immission concentrations was noted after the facility ceased its industrial activity. No significant differences were observed in human health risks derived from the exposure to metals and PCDD/Fs before and after the plant ceased the cement production. Risk values for the population living near the facility were similar to those found for residents living in a number of urban and suburban areas.

Keywords:

• PCDD/Fs
• metals
• cement plant
• environmental monitoring
• human health risks

Acknowledgment

The present study was financially supported by CEMEX ESPAÑA SA. J. Rovira received a PhD fellowship from AGAUR (Commissioner for Universities and Research of the Department of Innovation, Universities and Enterprise of the “Generalitat de Catalunya” and the European Social Fund).