An Exercise-Pollution Exposure Index for Assessing Inhaled Heavy Metal Exposure Along Urban Walking Routes

Area of Science:

• Environmental Health
• Toxicology
• Urban Planning

Background:

• Urban walking routes are promoted for health benefits but may pose risks due to pollutant exposure.
• Road dust contains heavy metals that can be inhaled during physical activity.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate heavy metal exposure on urban walking routes.
• To assess health risks associated with inhaling road dust during exercise.
• To introduce and validate the Exercise-Pollution Exposure Index (EPEI).

Main Methods:

• Collected road dust samples from 17 sites in Samsun, Türkiye, across different route types.
• Analyzed 12 heavy metals (V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Cd, Ba, As, Pb) using ICP-MS.
• Calculated health risk indices, deposited inhalation dose, and the EPEI.

Main Results:

• Conventional health risk indices were within acceptable limits for average adult exposure.
• High-traffic and industrial routes showed higher heavy metal exposure than residential and recreational routes.
• Chromium (Cr) contributed most to carcinogenic risk; Manganese (Mn) and Zinc (Zn) dominated the deposited inhalation dose.

Conclusions:

• Urban walking routes are significant exposure microenvironments for heavy metals.
• The EPEI is a valuable screening tool for comparing inhalation exposure risks on different routes.
• Findings emphasize the need to consider air quality in urban route planning for physical activity.