Gurjar B R, Mohan M, Sidhu K S
Centre for Atmospheric Sciences, Indian Institute of Technology, New Delhi, India.
Regul Toxicol Pharmacol. 1996 Oct;24(2 Pt 1):141-8. doi: 10.1006/rtph.1996.0119.
In India, rapid urbanization and industrialization have contributed positively toward meeting the materialistic needs of the citizens, but have also resulted in contamination of the atmospheric environment. This paper deals with the assessment of potential health risks posed by carcinogenic substances, namely cadmium, chromium, and nickel, present in certain atmospheric environments in India. Average air concentrations of these carcinogenic metals have been assessed for different states and regions of India (C. R. Krishnamurti and P. Vishwanathan, Toxic Metals in the Indian Environment, Tata/McGraw-Hill, New Delhi, 1991). Based on these assessments, both individual and societal risks have been estimated in different states of the country, and comparisons were made. Reported concentration, release sources, potential health risks including cancer risk estimates, and ambient air interim guidelines are discussed. The reported environmental releases and cancer risk from cadmium are minimal. There is a potential for increased respiratory cancer risk from exposure to chromium and nickel in some northern Indian states. These metals are irritants to nasal passages and the respiratory tract. Chromium is also corrosive to mucus membranes. They have the potential to cause chronic respiratory problems. Since it appears that these metals may cause some adverse health effects in humans, exposure to these ambient air pollutants should be minimized by managing the release of these contaminants to the environment. There is a need for the development and strict enforcement of national and state regulatory standards.
在印度，快速的城市化和工业化对满足公民的物质需求产生了积极影响，但也导致了大气环境污染。本文探讨了印度某些大气环境中存在的致癌物质，即镉、铬和镍所带来的潜在健康风险评估。已对印度不同邦和地区这些致癌金属的平均空气浓度进行了评估（C.R.克里希纳穆尔蒂和P.维斯瓦纳坦，《印度环境中的有毒金属》，塔塔/麦格劳-希尔出版社，新德里，1991年）。基于这些评估，估算了该国不同邦的个人和社会风险，并进行了比较。讨论了报告的浓度、排放源、潜在健康风险（包括癌症风险估计）以及环境空气暂行准则。报告显示，镉的环境排放量和癌症风险极小。在印度北部的一些邦，接触铬和镍有可能增加患呼吸道癌症的风险。这些金属会刺激鼻腔通道和呼吸道。铬还会腐蚀黏膜。它们有可能导致慢性呼吸问题。鉴于这些金属似乎可能对人类健康造成一些不良影响，应通过控制这些污染物向环境中的排放，尽量减少对这些环境空气污染物的接触。有必要制定并严格执行国家和邦的监管标准。
