Trace elements ; Children's facilities ; Risk assessment ; Multi-pathways
Abstract
This study assessed the health risk of trace elements in indoor children-facilities by multi-pathway
measurements (Air, Dust, Wipe, Hand washing). The samples of indoor place were collected at various children's
facilities (40 day-care houses, 42 child-care centers, 44 kindergartens, and 42 indoor playgrounds) in summer
(Jul~Sep, 2007) and winter (Jan~Feb, 2008) periods, and analyzed by ICP-MS. The lifetime Excess Cancer Risks
(ECRs) were estimated for carcinogen trace elements such as As, Cd, Cr and Ni. For carcinogens, the Excess
Cancer Risk (ECR) was calculated by considering the process of deciding Cancer Potency Factor (CPF) and Age
Dependent Adjust Factor (ADAF) of the data of adults. Both Hazard Quotients (HQs) and Hazard Index (HI) were
estimated for the non-carcinogens and children sensitivity trace elements like Cd, Cu, and Cr. The average ECRs
for young children were 1×10-10~1×10-6 (50%th percentile) level in all facilities. Non-carcinogens and Children's
sensitivity materials did not exceed 1.0 (HQs, HI) for all subjects in all facilities. For trace elements their
detection rates through multi-pathways were not high and their risk based on health risk assessment was also
observed to be acceptable. In addition, through education on the risk of multi-pathway exposure of trace
elements for managers of facilities as well as for users the risk control of exposure of children