Health risk assessment of heavy metals in PM2.5 and PM10 in Sarajevo air, Bosnia and Herzegovina

The concentrations of eight heavy metals (Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb and Zn) associated with PM2.5 and PM10 in Sarajevo air, Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) have been studied. A total of 136 PM2.5 and PM10 samples were simultaneously collected from 21 February to 11 November 2020. Metal contents were determined by atomic absorption spectrometry, flame (FAAS) and electrothermal (ETAAS) techniques. The mean concentrations of metals in PM10 are 2.93 ng/m3 (Cd), 7.21 ng/m3 (Cr), 12.02 ng/m3 (Cu), 126 ng/m3 (Fe), 20.74 ng/m3 (Mn), 6.98 ng/m3 (Ni), 8.74 ng/m3 (Pb) and 128 ng/m3 (Zn). In PM2.5 samples the mean concentrations of Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni and Zn are 0.39, 4.06, 2.26, 110, 0.63, 1.93 and 5.28 ng/m3, respectively. Pb was not detected in PM2.5 samples. Strong correlation was obtained for metal pairs Mn-Cu in PM10 and moderate for Ni-Fe in PM2.5. The health risk assessment shows that the adult population of Sarajevo is at increased lifetime risk of experiencing cancer because of exposure to Cd concentrations in PM10.