ASSESSMENT OF CADMIUM AND CHORMIUM LEVELS IN HOUSEHOLD DUST IN THE RIO DE JANEIRO METROPOLITAN REGION

Resumo

INTRODUCTION: Indoor air quality monitoring is key for promoting healthier home environments. However, despite WHO guidelines for the Air Quality Index, many chemical substances in air and particulate matter remain unregulated, with no established exposure limits. Household dust plays an important role in assessing indoor air quality, identifying exposure to various substances, such as metals. Multiple sources contribute to particles deposited indoors, and home architecture can influence the dust load and composition. OBJECTIVE: To assess cadmium and chromium concentrations in household dust using an innovative dust sampling methodology. METHODS AND MATERIALS: Eleven households in the Rio de Janeiro Metropolitan Region were conveniently selected over two years. Dust was collected seasonally using a 30 x 30 cm polystyrene sampler placed 2 meters high in two rooms for 60 days. An air pump (20 L/min) with cellulose ester membrane cassettes was used for sampling. Metal concentrations were analyzed by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: This study analyzed three household dust sampling campaigns conducted between June 2023 and July 2024, focusing on the quantification of cadmium (Cd) and chromium (Cr) metals. Average Cr concentrations were 25.09 μg g‍1, 30.79 μg g‍1, and 125.82 μg g1 in rounds 1, 2, and 3, respectively, with variations ranging from 7.71 μg g-1 to 1,010.91 μg g1. For Cd, averages were 3.28 μg g1, 7.63 μg g1, and 2.94 μg g1, with values ranging from 0.87 μg g1 to 39.23 μg g1. Deposition rates were stable for Cd but variable for Cr, suggesting the influence of seasonal or transient factors. Significant differences in concentrations between rooms highlight the importance of indoor environmental characteristics in exposure dynamics. The approach presented was effective in systematically and standardized data collection, providing concrete, previously unknown data on metal exposure in household environments of an urban city. Thus, a new, low-cost, easy-to-execute monitoring method is offered with wide applications in public health.