Assessment of environmental health risk to respirable dust and heavy metals in air and soil from bauxite mining areas in Felda Bukit Goh and Kuantan Port Flat, Pahang

Sajali, Intan Nor Lyana (2016) Assessment of environmental health risk to respirable dust and heavy metals in air and soil from bauxite mining areas in Felda Bukit Goh and Kuantan Port Flat, Pahang. [Project Paper] (Submitted)

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Abstract

Background: Bauxite mining activities in Kuantan, Pahang seems to give harm by releasing hazardous waste such as dust, toxic chemicals and radioactive substances. These environmental and health effect of the mining activities have been a public concern recently, hence, need to be addressed. Therefore, the objectives of this study were: (1) to determine particulate matter (PM₁₀) and heavy metal levels (A1, Cd, As, Cr, Ni and Pb) of red dust in the air and soil sedimentation within the household in the area surrounding the mines and (2) to assess the environmental health risk of bauxite mining activities in Kuantan, Pahang. Methodology: Cross-sectional study was conducted on 162 randomly selected households in the three different residential area; Felda Bukit Goh, Jalan Besar Bukit Goh and Kuantan Port Consortium flat. Respondents were interviewed using selfconstructed questionnaire to collect information on their background and the health symptoms. For environmental sampling 42 households were sub-sampled and surface soil samples were collected from respondents' households, while PM₁₀ and selected heavy metals level in household area were measured by Gillian air sampling pumps that were equipped with filter paper for 24 hours period. Results: The results showed that the PM₁₀ level exceeded the limit value of 150 µg/m³ for 24 hours exposure. Level for A1, Cd, As, Cr, Ni and Pb in ambient air were found exceeding the U.S Department of Health and Human Services (ATSDR) limit value, meanwhile for soil, all heavy metals does not exceeded the value recommended by Standard of Dutch Target. The health risk assessment for the population exposed to bauxite mining activities also indicated that the inhalation exposure did not pose any health hazard except for cadmium in Jalan Besar Bukit Goh (4.1328), chromium; Felda Bukit Goh (74.0560), Jalan Besar Bukit Goh (84.4088), Kuantan Port Consortium Flat (76.8655) and nickel; Felda Bukit Goh (60.5322), Jalan Besar Bukit Goh (66.9509), Kuantan Port Consortium Flat (58.8111). The lifetime cancer risk also did not show any significant hazard as the lifetime excess cancer risk were less than 10⁻⁶except for chromium; Felda Bukit Goh (2.5234 x10⁻²), Jalan Besar Bukit Goh (2.8763 x 10⁻²), and Kuantan Port Consortium Flat (2.6191 x 10⁻²).Conclusion: From the findings it can be concluded that the overall PM₁₀ levels exceeded the Malaysian Ambient Air Quality Guidelines (MAAQG, 2015). Heavy metal levels in ambient air exceeded the limit value and might have influence on the health symptoms among respondents, meanwhile, heavy metals levels in soil were low and did not exceed the recommended value. Keywords: Particulate Matter (PM₁₀), Respiratory Symptoms, Dermal Symptoms

Item Type:	Project Paper
Faculty:	Faculty of Medicine and Health Science
Depositing User:	Mr Muhamad Fazril Awang
Date Deposited:	22 Nov 2022 08:20
Last Modified:	22 Nov 2022 08:20
URI:	http://psaspb.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/289

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