Mapping Exposure to Multi-Pollutants Using Environmental Biomonitors-A Multi-Exposure Index

Area of Science:

• Environmental Science
• Toxicology
• Biomonitoring

Background:

• Atmospheric deposition is a key pathway for pollutant transport, particularly in industrial zones, releasing organic compounds like polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans (PCDD/Fs) and toxic elements (e.g., lead, arsenic).
• Assessing the spatial distribution of these pollutants is challenging due to high environmental heterogeneity.
• Lichens serve as effective biomonitors, integrating pollution over space and time with greater detail than traditional air monitoring.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a novel semi-quantitative multi-pollutant toxicity exposure index (TEQ-like) to estimate human exposure levels from atmospheric deposition.
• To correlate measured pollutant concentrations in biomonitors with potential human health risks.
• To create spatial maps of contaminant deposition weighted by relative risk.

Main Methods:

• Utilized lichens as biomonitors to measure concentrations of PCDD/Fs and chemical elements.
• Developed a TEQ-like index based on risk estimates to assess multi-pollutant toxicity.
• Employed interpolation techniques to map contaminant deposition across the region.

Main Results:

• Successfully developed and applied a TEQ-like index for spatial representation of weighted pollutant accumulation.
• Demonstrated the ability of lichens to integrate and reflect the deposition of diverse atmospheric pollutants.
• Generated interpolated maps illustrating the spatial pattern of contaminant deposition based on biomonitor data.

Conclusions:

• The developed TEQ-like index provides a valuable tool for assessing spatial human exposure to atmospheric multi-pollutants.
• This approach aids industries in refining mitigation strategies and assists health stakeholders in targeted risk assessments and epidemiological studies.
• Biomonitoring with lichens offers a cost-effective and detailed method for environmental pollution monitoring and risk evaluation.