Publications which conducted health risk assessment

Publications which conducted exposure assessment of toxic substances but no health risk estimate.

Latif et al. (2010) conducted a exposure assessment of different toxic substances during renovation activities like demolition, grilling, sanding, cutting, and painting in the laboratory. Gravimetric sampling method was used to collect PM₁₀ samples at a low flowrate of 5 L/min. Dust samples were analyzed for toxic substances using inductively coupled plasma-mass spectroscopy. PM₁₀ concentration was in the range of 166 and 542 µg/m³. Four different toxic substances (Pb, Cd, Zn, and Cu) were determined. Zn was found to be the most abundant substance followed by Cu and Pb. The concentration of Cd was the lowest among the other substances.

Li et al. (2015) collected three different sized particles (PM_8.1-20, PM_2-4, and PM_0.25-0.5) from different heights of a building adjacent to building under construction. PM samples were collected using gravimetric sampling method using Naneum Nano ID at a 20 L/min flowrate. PM samples were analyzed for different toxic substances using XS105 Metter Toledo. 12 different toxic substances were analyzed (C, O, Si, Al, Ca, Na, Mg, Cl, P, S, K, Fe). Substances like Si, Al, K, Ca, and Fe were found to be the most abundant substances in PM_8.1-20 while in PM_0.25-0.5, the concentrations of C, S, and K were the highest. The authors found that health risks of PM and toxic substances were higher at the ground floor than top floor based on the concentrations of toxic substances and PM.

Azarmi and Kumar (2016) assessed the exposure to PM and toxic substances in demolition site. PM₁₀, PM_2.5, and PM₁ were measured during 54 hours during the demolition works. Four types of locations were selected to collect the dust samples: (1) fixed site (2) around the demolition site (3) different distances from the site (4) inside an excavator. Collected samples were analyzed for toxic substances using JOEL SEM equipped with energy dispersive X-ray spectrometer (EDS). Dust samples were analyzed for C, O, F, Si, S, Al, Mg, Cl, Na, N, Zn. Si and Al were found to be the most abundant substances among the toxic substances measured. Coarse particles (PM_2.5-10) contributed 89% of the total PM.

Moraes et al. (2016) determined concentrations of TSP, PM₁₀, and their chemical compositions in construction sites during concrete and masonry works. MiniVol samplers were used to collect dust samples at a flowrate of 5 L/min. PM₁₀ samples were used to determine the concentrations of toxic substances. EDX700HS machine was used to analyze dust samples for different toxic substances. Different toxic substances (Na, Al, Si, S, Cl, K, Ca, Fe) were determined. The results showed the dominance of Cl, Na, and Ca among the toxic substances measured. The concentration of K was found to be the lowest among the measured toxic substances.