Health effects Particles PAH's Dioxins nitrogen dioxide Benzene Sulphur dioxide carbon monxide |
metals Metals in air are mostly attached to particles either in elemental or in compound form. Some metals can persist in air as a vapour, especially mercury. Coal smoke has a varied profile of metal emissions and domestic coal emits metals in quantities potentially harmful to human health. Those of concern are: lead, arsenic, chromium and mercury but there are others which are poisonous and domestic smoke exposure combined with that from other sources may mean an exceedance of safe limits for many. Metal emissions from domestic solid fuel
Columns in pink: are up to date taken from: naei site (scroll down and highlight "domestic combustion", click "submit" etc) See also Trace Elements in West Virginia Coals here (units are ppm !) and here See also this article from ACARP final page of pdf file. health effects of individual metals Arsenic sources Many industrial processes. Combustion of coal and anthracite. health effects Acute inhalation exposure to inorganic arsenic may result in gastrointestinal effects and nervous system disorders in humans. Effects of acute exposure to arsine, a gaseous compound of arsenic can lead to kidney failure. Chronic inhalation exposure to inorganic arsenic is associated with irritation of the skin and mucous membranes including dermatitis, conjunctivitis, pharyngitis, and rhinitis. Women who have increased arsenic exposure because of where they work or live have an increased incidence of miscarriage and lower birth weight babies (although arsenic may be a confounder and exposure may be associated with other pollutants). The breathing in of inorganic arsenic exposure is strongly associated with lung cancer. Eating and drinking arsenic containing food and water is associated with an increased risk of skin, bladder, liver, and lung cancer. The US EPA has classified inorganic arsenic as a carcinogen of high potency. exposure Skin contact, eating and drinking, and inhalation. Burning coal near you can expose you to more than 110ng/m3 converted to an annual average. A safe ambient air annual average concentration is about 6ng/m3. Winter ambient air concentrations in Wolverhampton, UK close to a waste incinerator and close but outside an area of domestic smoke activity often exceeded 6ng/m3. Chromium Chromium and its compounds form a large and varied group of chemicals, the hazards of which depend upon chemical bonding type. These are chromium metal (0) chromium (11), chromium (111), chromium (IV) and chromium (V1). Chromium (V1) compounds are the most poisonous. sources Chromium and its compounds are used in many processes and products for example:
By breathing in dust, fume or mist or by skin contact with solutions or solids. Workplace average exposure limits are 0.05mg/m3 for chromium VI compounds and 0.5mg/m3 for other chromium compounds health effects Chromium (V1) compounds (chromates, bichromates, chromic acid) are more dangerous than other compounds and is a highly potent human carcinogen. Long-term health effects to inhaled chromium are damage to the nose, including ulcers and holes in the tissue separating the nostrils; irritation of the lungs; kidney damage; allergic reactions in the skin and respiratory tract; possible risk of cancer of the lung and nose. A study commissioned by the New Zealand government recommended limits for chromium VI to be 1.1 ng/m3 as an annual average and 6.7 ng/m3 for a 1-hour exposure. For chromium metal and chromium II and III, the study recommended a limit of 110 ng/m3 as an annual average and 670 ng/m3 for a 1-hour exposure. Overall chromium exposure from domestic coal burning is unlikely to exceed 13ng/m3. See also this naei page and lead sources Non ferrous metal industries. Coal fired power stations. Waste treatment and disposal. (Petrol used to be the main 80+% source but is now very small). Domestic coal. health effects Whether lead is ingested or inhaled, the health effect depends upon blood lead levels usually expressed in units of ug/dl (micrograms per decilitre). Acute lead poisoning occurs at blood levels above 100ug/dl. Above about 80 µg/dl, intestinal pains may occur. Above about 50 µg/dl, an inability to produce haemoglobin ca cause anaemia. Effects on the kidneys and male reproductive organs may occur at levels greater than 40 µg/dl. Nerve functions in the limbs may be affected at concentrations above 30 µg/dl. The brain development of young children is affected by levels as low as 10ug/dl, reducing intelligence and harming educational achievement. An airborne concentration of 1ug/m3 increases dlood lead levels by 5ug/dl. exposure Inhalation of particulate lead particles. Ingesting contaminated food, beverages and dust. Drinking water, especially that from lead pipes. Lead solder in cans and airborne lead in petrol are now almost zero. The UK government has an annual average limit of 250ng/m3 for airborne lead. This level ensures that the inhaled contribution stays belows 2ug/dl. Average annual exposures due to living with a coal fire and in an area of domestic coal activity may cause many people to exceed the limit although the effect is most likely to affect children and is likely to be small. mercury Sources Dental amalgam, types of seafood and some industrial processes are important sources of mercury. Waste incineration, crematoria, coal and oil combustion are significant sources of airborne mercury, the majority of which is vapour either metallic or in compound. A small percentage is particle bound. Health effects The nervous system is very sensitive to all forms of mercury. Methylmercury and metallic mercury gas tend to be more harmful than other forms because these forms are more able to reach the brain. Exposure to high levels of metallic, inorganic, or organic mercury can permanently damage the brain, kidneys, and developing feotus. Affected brain functioning may result in irritability, and problems with vision, hearing and memory. exposure Eating mercury contaminated food and mercuric release from dental amalgam are the main exposure. Airborne mercury is considered harmful as a contribution to the overall uptake in the human body if average concentrations exceed 50ng/m3. Living with a coal (smokeless) fire in an area of domestic smoke activity may expose some people to an annual average of 40ng/m3. nickel sources Industrial processes eg metal refining; nickel plating. Coal combustion. health effects May exacerbate asthma. It may decrease lung function and it may cause lung and nasal sinus cancer. exposure A safe exposure limit is considered to be 20ng/m3. Living with some types of coal fires aithin a domestic coal burning area may expose you to more than 90ng/m3 as an annual average. |