Risk Assessment of Occupational Exposure to Air Pollution in Baghdad City

Abstract

Air pollution rates have increased in the city of Baghdad due to the spread of sources of fuel burning, car exhaust, electric power generators, and other industrial activities.Air pollution causing major global problems of public health especially occupational exposure for workers in street (traffic police, security workers,street vendors,etc).The aims of this study are to determine levels and nature of occupational exposure toair pollutants in Baghdad city.

Twenty stations for air sampling and 32 blood samples were collected from different areas of Baghdad city both Karkh and Rusafa sides. These samples were analyzed by an inductively coupled plasma- atomic emission spectrometer (ICP-AES) for Lead (Pb), Cadmium (Cd), Copper (Cu), Chromium (Cr), Zinc (Zn).  

The mean value of Total Suspended Particles (TSP) in the air, was(825.244 μg/m3), which is higher than Iraqi standards and world international allowable limits.

The mean concentrations of CO and CO₂ in the air(1.61 and  440.4ppm) these are lying within national and world standard.

The air of study area considered good quality for CO and CO₂  health effect while considered hazardous for TSP with health risk.

The result showed that the air of the region containing high concentration of heavy elements (Pb, Cr, Zn) 0.72, 0.136 and31.95µg/m³ respectivelyin the air exceeded the permissible limits globally and nationally, except (Cd, Cu)0.014, 0.150µg/m³, respectivelywere lower than the world limits, Iraqi studies and MOE, Canada.

The mean concentrations of Heavy metals  in the bloodof exposure group are significantly higher than those in the blood of control group.

The results showed no significant differences (p < 0.05) between the exposure and control groups, there is no correlation between the level of heavy elements in the blood ofexposure groupson the one hand, and age, smoking, and duration of work on the other hand. The comparison of the mean values of heavy metals with the Iraqi and International Studies it is noticed that they are lower than Iraqi and International Studies.