Seasonal variation of particulate matter deposition in human lungs through different exposure pathways in an industrial city

Exact evaluation of particulate matter (PM) dose and its respiratory deposition is required to better understand the dangers of PM exposure and, as a result, create appropriate risk control strategies. In Firozabad industrial area, this is especially relevant in favor of ultrafine particles which originate from glass industries. Thus, this study aimed to estimate the deposition of PM in human lungs and their health risk evaluation through oral and nasal breathing routes. Overall average concentration of size-segregated PM in both seasons was found as 77.14 μg/m³ (PM_1.0), 105.40 μg/m³, (PM_2.5), and 277.64 μg/m³ (PM₁₀). On season-wise comparison of size-segregated particulate matter (PM_1.0, PM_2.5, and PM₁₀) average concentration, it was found that the winter season has a 1.2 times higher PM load instead of the summer season. It was found that infants as well as kids were highly affected by smallest size particles PM_2.5 (78.28 and 79.14%) and PM_1.0 (78.09 and 78.23%) during the winter and summer seasons in the pulmonary region. During winter and summer, it was observed that overall regional deposition was approximately same through nasal and oral breathing scenario (16.67-16.68%). From the carcinogenic risk assessment result of metals, it was revealed that Cr showed carcinogenic health risk during winter in adults (2.90E-03 and 6.37E-03) and in children (2.32E-02 and 9.29E-04) and in the summer season in adults (1.88E-03 and 4.12E-03) and in children (1.50E-02 and 6.01E-04) through ingestion and inhalation exposure pathways, respectively. It was found that Ni and Co showed highest noncarcinogenic risk in residents.