Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Monitoring Environmental Pollutants in the Vicinity of a Cement Plant: A Temporal Study

  • Published:
Archives of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

From 2008 to 2009, we evaluated the environmental impact of a cement plant (Montcada i Reixac, Catalonia, Spain) that is located close to densely populated areas. The potential health risks for the population living in the neighborhood were also assessed. The levels of various heavy metals and the concentrations of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans (PCDD/Fs) were determined in soil, vegetation, and air samples collected at different directions and distances from the facility. Three 6-monthly consecutive campaigns were performed to establish temporal and seasonal trends. Multivariate statistical techniques, such as principal component analysis, were used. Human exposure to metals and PCDD/Fs, as well as the associated carcinogenic and noncarcinogenic risks, were also calculated. Environmental pollutant concentrations, especially those found in urban sites, were noted to be slightly higher than those recently reported around other cement plants in Catalonia. A seasonal pattern was observed, with higher values recorded during the colder sampling periods. Despite this, the carcinogenic and noncarcinogenic risks derived from human exposure to metals and PCDD/Fs were within the ranges considered acceptable by international regulatory organisms.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Abad E, Caixach J, Rivera J, Gustems L, Massagué G, Puig O (2004) Temporal trends of PCDDs/PCDFs in ambient air in Catalonia (Spain). Sci Total Environ 334–335:279–285

    Google Scholar 

  • Andersson M, Ottesen RT (2008) Levels of dioxins and furans in urban surface soil in Trondheim, Norway. Environ Pollut 152:553–558

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Asubiojo OI, Aina PO, Oluwole AF, Arshed W, Akanle OA, Spyrou NM (1991) Effects of cement production on the elemental composition of soils in the neighborhood of two cement factories. Water Air Soil Pollut 57–58:819–828

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Canpolat BR, Atimtay AT, Munlafalioglu I, Kalafatoglu E, Ekinci E (2002) Emission factors of cement industry in Turkey. Water Air Soil Pollut 138:235–252

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Chapman PM (2008) Environmental risks of inorganic metals and metalloids: a continuing, evolving scientific odyssey. Hum Ecol Risk Assess 14:5–40

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Çok I, Donmez MK, Satiroglu MH, Aydinuraz B, Henkelmann B, Shen H et al (2008) Concentrations of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs), polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDFs), and dioxin-like PCBs in adipose tissue of infertile men. Arch Environ Contam Toxicol 55:143–152

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Conesa JA, Gálvez A, Mateos F, Martín-Gullón I, Font R (2008) Organic and inorganic pollutants from cement kiln stack feeding alternative fuels. J Hazard Mater 158:585–592

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Genon G, Brizio E (2008) Perspectives and limits for cement kilns as a destination for RDF. Waste Manage 28:2375–2385

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Işikli B, Demir TA, Akar T, Berber A, Ürer SM, Kalyoncu C et al (2006) Cadmium exposure from the cement dust emissions: a field study in a rural residence. Chemosphere 63:1546–1552

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kalafatoğlu E, Örs N, Sain Özdemir S, Munlafalioğlu I (2001) Trace element emissions from some cement plants in Turkey. Water Air Soil Pollut 129:91–100

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Karstensen KH (2008) Formation, release and control of dioxins in cement kilns. Chemosphere 70:543–560

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Klánová J, Čupr P, Holoubek I, Borůvková J, Pibylová P, Kare R et al (2009) Monitoring of persistent organic pollutants in Africa. Part 1: passive air sampling across the continent in 2008. J Environ Monit 11:1952–1963

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lee RGM, Green NJL, Lohmann R, Jones KC (1999) Seasonal, anthropogenic, air mass, and meteorological influences on the atmospheric concentrations of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans (PCDD/Fs): evidence for the importance of diffuse combustion sources. Environ Sci Technol 33:2864–2871

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Li Y, Wang P, Ding L, Li X, Wang T, Zhang Q et al (2010) Atmospheric distribution of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins, dibenzofurans and dioxin-like polychlorinated biphenyls around a steel plant Area, Northeast China. Chemosphere 79:253–258

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Linares V, Perelló G, Nadal M, Gómez-Catalán J, Llobet JM, Domingo JL (2010) Environmental versus dietary exposure to POPs and metals: a probabilistic assessment of human health risks. J Environ Monit 12:681–688

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Mari M, Nadal M, Schuhmacher M, Domingo JL (2008) Monitoring PCDD/Fs, PCBs and metals in the ambient air of an industrial area of Catalonia, Spain. Chemosphere 73:990–998

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ministerio de Medio Ambiente (2007) Guía Técnica de aplicación del RD 9/2005, de 14 de enero, por el que se establece la relación de actividades potencialmente contaminantes del suelo y los criterios y estándares para la declaración de suelos contaminados [in Spanish]. Dirección General de Calidad y Evaluación Ambiental

  • Mokrzycki E, Uliasz-Bocheńczyk A (2003) Alternative fuels for the cement industry. Appl Energy 74:95–100

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Nadal M, Schuhmacher M, Domingo JL (2004) Probabilistic human health risk of PCDD/F exposure: a socioeconomic assessment. J Environ Monit 6:926–931

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Nadal M, Bocio A, Schuhmacher M, Domingo JL (2005) Trends in the levels of metals in soils and vegetation samples collected near a hazardous waste incinerator. Arch Environ Contam Toxicol 49:290–298

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Nadal M, Mari M, Schuhmacher M, Domingo JL (2009) Multi-compartmental environmental surveillance of a petrochemical area: levels of micropollutants. Environ Int 35:227–235

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Odabasi M, Bayram A, Elbir T, Seyfioglu R, Dumanoglu Y, Ornektekin S (2010) Investigation of soil concentrations of persistent organic pollutants, trace elements, and anions due to iron-steel plant emissions in an industrial region in Turkey. Water Air Soil Pollut 213:375–388

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Park SU, Kim JG, Jeong MJ, Song BJ (2010, July 8) Source identification of atmospheric polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in industrial complex using diagnostic ratios and multivariate factor analysis. Arch Environ Contam Toxicol [Epub ahead of print]

  • Rovira J, Mari M, Nadal M, Schuhmacher M, Domingo JL (2010a) Environmental monitoring of metals, PCDD/Fs and PCBs as a complementary tool of biological surveillance to assess human health risks. Chemosphere 80:1183–1189

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Rovira J, Mari M, Nadal M, Schuhmacher M, Domingo JL (2010b) Partial replacement of fossil fuel in a cement plant: risk assessment for the population living in the neighborhood. Sci Total Environ 408:5372–5380

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Rovira J, Mari M, Nadal M, Schuhmacher M, Domingo JL (2011) Use of sewage sludge as secondary fuel in a cement plant: human health risks. Environ Int 37:105–111

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Schuhmacher M, Domingo JL (2006) Long-term study of environmental levels of dioxins and furans in the vicinity of a municipal solid waste incinerator. Environ Int 32:397–404

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Schuhmacher M, Agramunt MC, Bocio A, Domingo JL, de Kok HAM (2003) Annual variation in the levels of metals and PCDD/PCDFs in soil and herbage samples collected near a cement plant. Environ Int 29:415–421

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Schuhmacher M, Domingo JL, Garreta J (2004) Pollutants emitted by a cement plant: health risks for the population living in the neighborhood. Environ Res 95:198–206

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Schuhmacher M, Nadal M, Domingo JL (2009) Environmental monitoring of PCDD/Fs and metals in the vicinity of a cement plant after using sewage sludge as a secondary fuel. Chemosphere 74:1502–1508

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Škrbić B, Durišić-Mladenović N (2007) Distribution of chlorinated organic pollutants in a wide variety of soils from Europe and Asia: a multivariate statistical approach. Arch Environ Contam Toxicol 52:466–474

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sracek O, Armienta MA, Rodríguez R, Villaseñor G (2010) Discrimination between diffuse and point sources of arsenic at Zimapán, Hidalgo state, Mexico. J Environ Monit 12:329–337

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Takasuga T, Inoue T, Ohi E, Kumar KS (2004) Formation of polychlorinated naphthalenes, dibenzo-p-dioxins, dibenzofurans, biphenyls, and organochlorine pesticides in thermal processes and their occurrence in ambient air. Arch Environ Contam Toxicol 46:419–431

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • United States Environmental Protection Agency (1989) Risk assessment guidance for superfund volume I: human health evaluation manual. Office of Superfund Remediation and Technology Innovation, EPA/540/1-89/002

  • United States Environmental Protection Agency (2009a) Risk assessment guidance for superfund volume I: human health evaluation manual (part F, supplemental guidance for inhalation risk assessment). Office of Superfund Remediation and Technology Innovation, EPA-540-R-070-002

  • United States Environmental Protection Agency (2009b) Risk assessment guidance for superfund volume I: human health evaluation manual (part E, supplemental guidance for dermal risk assessment). Office of Superfund Remediation and Technology Innovation, EPA/540/R/99/005

  • United States Environmental Protection Agency (2009c) Review of international soil levels for dioxin. Office of Superfund Remediation and Technology Innovation OSWER 9200:3–54

    Google Scholar 

  • United States Environmental Protection Agency (2010) Preliminary Remediation Goals. Available at: http://www.epa.gov/region09/superfund/prg/. Accessed 10 October 2010

  • Venier M, Ferrario J, Hites RA (2009) Polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans in the atmosphere around the great lakes. Environ Sci Technol 43:1036–1041

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Vilavert L, Nadal M, Mari M, Schuhmacher M, Domingo JL (2010) Monitoring temporal trends in environmental levels of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans: results from a 10-year surveillance program of a hazardous waste incinerator. Arch Environ Contam Toxicol 59:521–531

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wang MS, Chen SJ, Huang KL, Lai YC, Chang-Chien GP, Tsai JH et al (2010) Determination of levels of persistent organic pollutants (PCDD/Fs, PBDD/Fs, PBDEs, PCBs, and PBBs) in atmosphere near a municipal solid waste incinerator. Chemosphere 80:1220–1226

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Waste Agency of Catalonia (2009) Nivells genèrics de referència dels elements traça en sols a Catalunya per la protecció de la salut humana [in Catalan]. Agència de Residus de Catalunya, Departament de Medi Ambient i Habitatge, Generalitat de Catalunya

  • Yatkin S, Bayram A (2010) TSP, PM depositions, and trace elements in the vicinity of a cement plant and their source apportionments using chemical mass balance model in Izmir, Turkey. Environ Monit Assess 167:125–141

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zabaniotou A, Theofilou C (2008) Green energy at cement kiln in Cyprus—Use of sewage sludge as a conventional fuel substitute. Renew Sust Energy Rev 12:531–541

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

The present study was financially supported by LAFARGE CEMENTOS SAU. J. Rovira received a doctoral studentship from AGAUR (Commissioner for Universities and Research of the Department of Innovation, Universities and Enterprise of the “Generalitat de Catalunya” and the European Social Fund).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratory of Toxicology and Environmental Health, School of Medicine, IISPV, Universitat Rovira i Virgili, Sant Llorenç 21, 43201 Reus, Catalonia, Spain

    Joaquim Rovira, Montse Mari, Marta Schuhmacher, Martí Nadal & José L. Domingo

  2. Environmental Engineering Laboratory, Departament d’Enginyeria Quimica, Universitat Rovira i Virgili, Av. Països Catalans 26, 43007, Tarragona, Catalonia, Spain

    Joaquim Rovira, Montse Mari & Marta Schuhmacher

Authors
  1. Joaquim Rovira
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Montse Mari
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Marta Schuhmacher
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Martí Nadal
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. José L. Domingo
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to José L. Domingo.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Rovira, J., Mari, M., Schuhmacher, M. et al. Monitoring Environmental Pollutants in the Vicinity of a Cement Plant: A Temporal Study. Arch Environ Contam Toxicol 60, 372–384 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00244-010-9628-9

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00244-010-9628-9

Keywords

Search

Navigation