Abstract

GARCIA-REYNOSO, José Agustín; GRUTTER, Michel  and  CINTORA-JUAREZ, Daniel. Risk assessment for criteria pollutants and formaldehyde in México City. Rev. Int. Contam. Ambient [online]. 2007, vol.23, n.4, pp.169-175. ISSN 0188-4999.

An environmental risk assessment study for Mexico City on criteria pollutants (O₃, NO₂, SO₂ and PM₁₀) and formaldehyde (HCHO) is presented. The methodology for non-carcinogenic effects is based on the Hazard Index and for carcinogenic effects is based on the life cancer probability and life loss expectancy (LLE). These quantitative estimates, which can be applied in other cities, have the capability to indicate which pollutants can affect health based on measured concentrations. It was found that formaldehyde is an important compound in the air quality degradation. Its Hazard Index is 3.4 for chronic exposure, a life cancer probability of 61.2x 10^-6 and 67 days of lost of life expectancy. On the other hand ozone represents the most influential pollutant for acute exposure reaching a Hazard Index larger than 1 for some hours of the day.

Keywords : environmental risk; México City; formaldehyde; atmospheric pollution.