Open AccessEffect of Cement Industry on Ambient Air Quality and Potential Health Risk: A Case Study from Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Author(s) -
Kamel K. AlZboon
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
jordanian journal of engineering and chemical industries
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 2617-720X
pISSN - 2616-9584
DOI - 10.48103/jjeci422021
Subject(s) - pollutant , hazard quotient , air quality index , ozone , environmental chemistry , environmental science , carbon dioxide , sulfur dioxide , nitrogen dioxide , toxicology , environmental engineering , chemistry , meteorology , biology , inorganic chemistry , physics , organic chemistry , heavy metals
This study aimed to determine the cement industry's impact on ambient air quality inside and around a Saudi Arabiancement plant. Air quality has assessed in terms of several indicators: carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide,sulfur dioxide, PM10, PM2.5, ozone, and volatile organic compounds. AERMOD model was used to predict theconcentrations of pollutants in the surrounding area. Results obtained revealed that the concentration of all impurities iswithin the standard limits for ambient air quality. In comparison with OSHA guidelines, only PM10 concentration exceededthe allowable limit. The higher concentrations of pollutants are recorded at the site closest to the plant site (S1, a housingcompound located 0.8km ESE from the plant). Concentrations at the other monitoring sites decreased significantly.Except for PM10, the calculated hazard quotient (HQ) of all pollutants was <1which indicated no health effects areexpected. The HQ of emissions can be ranked as: PM10> PM2.5>CO2>O3>CO>VOCs>NOx>SO2>H2S. The hazardousindex (HI) was: 3.59, 2.76, 2.18, and 2.67 for S1, S2 (located 17km NNE), S3 (located 10.6km SE), and S4 (located6.4km SSW), respectively. The affected organs can be ranked based on health risk calculation as respiratorysystem>cardiovascular system>Eye irritation>Allergy infection>Nervous system>Development>Hematology>Alimentary endocrine. The cancer risk factor was shallow and ranged from 4.04x10-6for S4 to 1.88x10-5for S1, whichindicated a very low-risk potential. In terms of emissions concentrations, AERMOD predicted higher concentrations thanthe actual monitoring data for all measured parameters.