MUTAGENICITY AND CARCINOGENICITY OF FISH SAUCE FROM A COUNTY WITH THE HIGH RISK FOR GASTRIC CANCER IN CHINA

The mutagenicity and carcinogenicity of fish sauce (FS) sample from Changle County, a high gastric cancer mortality (113.20/105) area, were investigated with the biologic short-term tests and laboratory animal experiment. The results showed that the extract of FS was markedly direct mutagenic toward S. typhimurium TA100, induced high sister chromatid exchanges (SCE) and micronucleus (MN) in V79 cells after nitrosation with sodium nitrite. But the non-nitrosated FS did not. The nitrosated fish sauce (NFS) also induced SOS in E. coli PQ37 and alkylation of calfthymus DNA. The potency of NFS to induce unscheduled DNA synthesis (UDS) in human normal gastric mucosal cells was increased about fivefold compared with FS. When the NFS extract was given to newborn rats by gavage, dys-plasia and adenocaroinoma were induced in the glandular stomach in the 4th and 16th experimental week, respectively. N-nitrosamides were also found in NFS, which may account for the mutagenicity and carcinogenicity of NFS. It is indicated that FS, a traditional daily eaten seasoning, may contribute to the causes of the high gastric cancer mortality for the local residents.

Levels of Genotoxic and Carcinogenic Ingredients in Plant Food Supplements and Associated Risk Assessment

The present study describes the selection, analysis and risk assessment of genotoxic and carcinogenic ingredients of botanicals and botanical preparations which can be found in food and plant food supplements (PFS). First an inventory was made of botanical ingredients that are of possible concern for human health because of their genotoxic and/or carcinogenic properties. In total, 30 botanical ingredients were selected and subsequently judged for their actual genotoxic and/or carcinogenic potential. Among the 30 compounds considered, 18 compounds were judged to be both genotoxic and carcinogenic. Interestingly, the majority of these compounds belong to the group of alkenylbenzenes or unsaturated pyrrolizidine alkaloids. Subsequently, based on available carcinogenicity data and estimated daily human exposure that was determined focusing on the intake from PFS, the Margin of Exposure (MOE) was calculated for the alkenylbenzenes estragole, methyleugenol, safrole and β-asarone. Calculating the MOEs for intake estimates of these alkenylbenzenes from PFS resulted in MOE values that were generally lower than 10,000 and often lower than 100. In some cases the MOE was even below 10 meaning that the estimated daily intake is in the range of dose levels causing malignant tumors in experimental animals. This result indicates that the use of PFS containing the genotoxic carcinogens estragole, methyleugenol, safrole or β-asarone might raise a potential concern for human health and would be of high priority for risk management.

Dietary Intake, Carcinogenic and Non-Carcinogenic Risk Potentials of Lead, Cadmium, Mercury and Arsenic Exposure via Consumption of Dried Crayfish in Calabar, Nigeria

Intense pressure from both onshore and offshore oil exploration and exploitation activities, together with the accompanying urbanization and industrialization has resulted in massive contamination of land and water resources in Niger Delta, Nigeria. Whereas crayfish is very sensitive to contaminant in the aquatic environment and constitute an important part of human diet, its quality and safety from environmental pollutant is of serious health concern. Evaluation of dietary intake, potential carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic risk of lead, cadmium, mercury and arsenic exposure via consumption of dried crayfish purchased from major markets in Calabar, Nigeria was carried out between June and August 2021. Thirty-six composite samples of dried crayfish purchased from 180 vendors were used for the study. Heavy metals concentrations were determined using Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer (Model AA-6800, Japan) after wet digestion. Metals concentrations (Mg/kg) were of the ranges 0.02 - 0.24, 0.14 - 0.86, 0.32 - 0.72, 0.04 - 0.19 for Pb, Cd, Hg and As respectively. The mean content of cadmium and mercury exceeded FAO/ WHO and Commission of European Communities maximum levels for crustaceans. Average Estimated Daily Intake for each of the metals was found to be above the recommended daily intake level except for arsenic. The average estimated daily intake values for Cd and Hg were also above the tolerable upper intake level. Average Target Hazard Quotient of all the metals and Hazard Index of all the markets were below 1.00. The Incremental Lifetime Cancer Risk of the metals was greater than the standard tolerable regulatory risk (10-4) for carcinogens. Consumption of crayfish purchased from major markets in Calabar could pose a range of carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic human health risks.

Pitfalls in Assessing Risks from Carcinogens

The decision to classify a chemical as a human carcinogen must depend upon agreed conclusions from epidemiology, bioassays, and some short-term corroborating tests; information from only one of these disciplines is inadequate. Most pitfalls appear in interpreting the results from animal bioassays; this report will concentrate on them. Often the conclusion is accepted that a chemical is an animal carcinogen without a critical appraisal of the experimental design. By manipulating the experiment, 90 + % of all chemicals can induce some tumor in a rodent. Pitfalls encountered in bioassays result from not specifying the exact agent under test and how it relates to human exposure, using inappropriate routes of administration unrelated to humans, administering illogically high doses, or concluding that a cancer was induced without adequate histopathological description of the lesion. Importance of animal husbandry is often overlooked. Pitfalls are also related to short-term tests. Finally, a major pitfall in assessing carcinogenic risk from chemicals is drawing global conclusions about the carcinogenicity of an agent after the detection of only one or two tumors in the treated group.

Non-Genotoxic Carcinogens.Approaches to Their Risk Assessment

Epidemiological studies support the idea that most human cancers are related to chemicals present in the human environment. In turn, chemicals are believed to cause cancer via either genotoxic or non-genotoxic mechanisms. There were described in literature several simple, rapid and inexpensive short term tests to reasonably predict the genotoxic nature of chemicals but in contrast, there is no reliable test or battery of tests available to predict the carcinogenicity of non-genotoxic compounds and this poses a major problem to their risk assessment. In addition, there are conflictive opinions about risk assessment needs for both classes of carcinogens. Some workers believe that for non-genotoxic carcinogens, thresholds for exposure can be drawn while others do not. In this review, the reasons behind both of these opinions and the present hypotheses about the mechanism of action of non-genotoxic carcinogens are described and analyzed in relation to future needs.

New development in risk assessment of genotoxic carcinogens in foods

The no-observed-effect level (NOEL) in a study of carcinogenicity for compounds that are both genotoxic and carcinogenic represents the limit of detection in that bioassay, rather than an estimate of a possible threshold. Therefore, for those genotoxic and carcinogenic contaminants (e.g. acrylamides, PAHs, etc.) in foods it is not possible to develop health-based guidance values (e.g. ADI or PTWI) using the traditional NOEL and safety/uncertainty factors.

Contamination assessment,source apportionment and associated health risks of PTEs in agricultural soil under five land-use patterns in Sanya,China

To understand the levels of potentially toxic elements(PTEs)contamination in soils and their effects on human health from different agricultural land use in Sanya,China.128 soil samples(64 topsoil samples and corresponding subsoil samples)were collected from the five representative land-use patterns.Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry(ICP-MS),Atomic fluorescence spectrometry(AFS),and Inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry(ICP-OES)were used to determine the content of PTEs(As,Cd,Hg,Cu,Cr,Ni,Pb,Zn,Co,Mo,Sb,and V).Correlation analysis and factor analysis were used to determine the source of PTEs.Geo-accumulation index(I_(geo)),hazard quotient(HQ),and total carcinogenic risk index(TR)were used to measure the PTEs contamination and its relative health impacts.Results showed that the average values of 12 PTEs in topsoil were higher than the Hainan soil geochemical baseline,showing different degrees of PTEs accumulation effect.The concentration of PTEs in the topsoil was lower than those in the subsoil except for Cd and Hg.The I_(geo)revealed that the major accumulated element in soils was As followed by Mo.Source apportionment suggested that parent materials and agricultural practices were the dominant factors for PTEs accumulation in the topsoil.Noncarcinogenic risks of soil samples from five land-use patterns presented a trend of paddy field>dry field>woodland>orchard>garden plot.However,the HQ values of 12 PTEs were less than the recommended limit of HQ=1,representing that there are no non-carcinogenic risks of PTEs for children and adults in the study area.The TR values are within 6.95×10^(-6)-1.38×10^(-5),which corresponds to the low level.Therefore the PTEs in the agricultural soil of the study area show little influence on the health status of the local population.

Ecological and Human Health Risk Assessment of Pesticide Residues in Fish and Sediments from Vea Irrigation Reservoir

The low yield of food production ascribed to harm caused by pests has led to the application of pesticides to food crops. Pesticide residues from the application on crops are mostly found in foods that can cause diseases for consumers of such products. A total of 37 pesticide residues consisting of 15 organochlorines (OC), 13 organophosphorus (OP) and 9 synthetic pyrethroids (SP) were determined. The QuEChERS method was exploited for extraction and clean-up. Gas Chromatograph was used for detection and quantification which was equipped with an electron capture detector and pulse flame photometric detector. The results showed that the mean concentrations of pesticides in fish ranged from 0.007 mg·kg-1 to 1.026 mg·kg-1 for OCs, 0.002 mg·kg-1 to 0.190 mg·kg-1 for OPs and 0.004 mg·kg-1 to 0.032 mg·kg-1 for SP. Sediments have mean concentrations ranged from 0.005 mg·kg-1 to 1.207 mg·kg-1 for OCs. OP ranges from 0.002 mg·kg-1 to 0.399 mg·kg-1 and 0.003 mg·kg-1 to 0.202 mg·kg-1 for synthetic pyrethroids. Maximum Residue Limits were exceeded in both fish and sediment samples except for malathion, fenitrothion, profenofos, gamma-chlordane, and deltamethrin. Exposure in children ranged from 4.60 × 10-6 mg·kg-1·d-1 to 2.36 × 10-3 mg·kg-1·d-1 and in adults it is from 1.97 × 10-6 mg·kg-1·d-1 to 1.01 × 10-3 mg·kg-1·d-1. Health risk estimation revealed a non-cancer risk potential of β-HCH in sediment and aldrin and p,p'-DDE in fish. Carcinogenic risk assessed for organochlorine pesticide residues indicates cancer benchmark concentrations greater than 10-4 to 10-6 threshold for acceptance.

Arsenic in Drinking Water Toxicological Risk Assessment in the North Region of Burkina Faso

Human health risks assessment were estimated by determining the nature and probability of adverse health effects in the North region’s populations who are now exposed to arsenic from drinking water or will be exposed in the future. Several questions were addressed in this study: what types of health problems may be caused by arsenic from drinking water? What is the chance that people will experience health problems when exposed to different levels of arsenic? What arsenic level are people exposed to and for how long? To answers these questions we have first identified the hazard by evaluating arsenic concentration in thirty-four (34) bore-hole water points among the region based on the assumption of clinical cases related to drinking water. Arsenic concentration ranged from 0 up to 87.8 micrograms per liter. Next we assessed the dose-response of exposure to arsenic. Dose-response relationship describes how the likelihood and severity of adverse health effects are related to the amount and condition of exposure to arsenic. This required us to choose toxicity reference values (TRVs) above which adverse effects may occur for noncarcinogenic and for carcinogenic effects. Exposure factors have been calculated in two scenarios: people from 0 to 14 years old and people from 15 to 70 years. Exposure has been estimated indirectly through consideration of measured concentrations of arsenic in drinking water. This study show that people in the Yatenga, Zondoma and Passore provinces are at very high risk for developing several pathologies such as hyper pigmentation, keratosis, cancer, etc. due by chronic exposure to arsenic in drinking water.

Health Risks due to Consumption of <i>Malus domestica</i>Golden Delicious Containing Heavy Metals

The intake of heavy metals through food consumption is a food safety problem that severely impacts the health of consumers, so information about food intake and heavy metal concentrations in food products is required to estimate the potential risk to the health of the population. The main purpose of this study was to estimate the potential risks to human health from exposure to Cd, Cu, Ni, Pb and Zn through the intake of Malus domestica Golden Delicious consumed in the Mexican southeast, considering the age group and gender. The concentration of each of the metals was quantified by spectrometry of atomic absorption (AAE) and the daily intake of metals (DIM) and health risk indices through the consumption of apple: health risk index (HRI), total health risk index (THRI), target hazard coefficient (THQ) and the probability of carcinogenic risk (CR) were estimated. The concentrations of the metals analyzed in the apple samples showed the following decreasing order: Zn ≥ Ni ≥ Cu ≥ Pb ≥ Cd. The DIM values showed the following decreasing order: child > young adult > adoescent > elders. The health risk assessments (HRI, THRI, THQ and CR) obtained from the samples of Golden Delicious apples are located within the acceptable and/or tolerable limits, however, the increase in the intake of heavy metals through consumption of apples from establishments in the study area or the consumption of various foods contaminated with heavy metals may increase the health risk potential of consumers. For this reason, it is recommended to carry out studies on the concentration of heavy metals in food products, mainly those of greater popular consumption, to guarantee food security of the population.

Synoptic Analysis of Epidemiologic Evidence of Brain Cancer Risks from Mobile Communication

In the radio frequency (RF) range concern about long-term health risks from electromagnetic fields (EMF) is enhanced by contradictory results and conclusions from epidemiologic studies. A new approach of a synoptic analysis of all available data from epidemiological studies published since 2001 was performed. This approach provided new insight with regard to a potential link between mobile phone use and brain cancer. Two quite different data pools could be identified with numerous studies from one research group opposing all other studies. However, it could be shown that with the number of exposed cases both data pools exhibit a clear trend of risk estimates (odds ratios) towards the final result, namely a reduced cancer risk of OR = 0.8, though from either side of the zero-risk line. The analysis of potential long-term effects indicated by a dosedependence revealed diverging results with different dose metrics. Overall, the synoptic analysis supports reassuring rather than alarming conclusions on RF EMF health risks from mobile telecommunication.

Degradation and Exposure Risk Assessment of Six Sulfonylurea Herbicides in Soil

[Objective] The paper was to understand the degradation tendency and carcinogenic risks of six sulfonylurea herbicides in soil, and guide the safe use. [Method] The herbicide residues were determined by UPLC-MS/MS and the degradation rates were calculated. In addition, the changing tendencies of directly exposed carcinogenic risk along with the herbicide residues were analyzed through the risk evaluation model. [Result] Significant differences were found among the degradation tendencies of the six sulfonylurea herbicides in soil, the longest theoretical half-life was 28.9 d and the shortest was 18.7 d. After application, the maximum carcinogenic risk value of the six herbicide residues in soil was 2.5×10^-8, lower than the reference value （×10^-6）. Oral intake and dermal contact were the major exposure routes, with the total contribution rate of 99.78% to the carcinogenic risk by direct exposure. When the P-value was less than 0.01, both original residue level and carcinogenic risk were significantly correlated with the dosage of herbicide, and the correlation coefficient was 0.983 1. [Conclusion] Under the condition of test, it does not have any unacceptable carcinogenic risk to human body. Moreover, selection of readily degradable herbicide with low residue level, and control of application rate are the effective approaches of reducing the carcinogenic risk of direct exposure.

Geochemical signatures and human health risk evaluation of rare earth elements in soils and plants of the northeastern Qinghai-Tibet Plateau,China

Information on rare earth elements(REEs)in soils and plants of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau is very limited.Therefore,in this study,we performed field sampling to explore the geochemical signatures and human health risk of REEs in soils and plants of the northeastern Qinghai-Tibet Plateau,China.A total of 127 soil samples and 127 plant samples were collected from the northeastern Qinghai-Tibet Plateau to acquire the geochemical signatures and related human health risks of REEs.The mean total concentrations of REEs in soils and plants of the study area reached 178.55 and 10.06 mg/kg,respectively.The light REEs in soils and plants accounted for 76%and 77%of the total REEs,respectively.REEs showed significantly homogenous distribution in soils but inhomogeneous distribution in plants of the study area.Characteristic parameters indicated that light REEs were enriched and fractionated significantly,while heavy REEs were moderately fractionated in soils and plants.REEs in soils and plants showed significantly negative Europium anomaly.Cerium showed slightly positive anomaly in plants and slight anomaly in soils.The normalized distribution patterns of REEs were generally similar in the analyzed soils and the corresponding plants of the study area.The average bio-concentration factor of REEs ranged from 0.0478(Scandium)to 0.0604(Europium),confirming a small accumulation of REEs by plants.Health risks caused by REEs in soils and plants were negligible,while risks for adults were lower than those for children.This study provides important information on REEs in soils and plants of the northeastern Qinghai-Tibet Plateau.

Fuzzy Framework of Health Risk Assessment of Nitrates in Groundwater

This study provides a characterization of potential health risk associated with groundwater Nitrates in Akkar plain in Taturs governorate in Syria. Six villages were chosen for Nitrates analysis in artesian wells. The results show that Nitrates concentrations are above the natural level but still below the level of water potability and measures have to be taken to prevent Nitrates accumulation in groundwater. Comparing Nitrates dose in young children diet with reference dose and calculating the hazard index give the noncarcinogenic risk (Methemoglobinemia). Carcinogenic risk of drinking well waters with Nitrates is calculated in a probabilistic-fuzzy framework. The role of Bacterial contamination of water and its association with Nitrates pollution is discussed and we found that the two pollutants are not correlated in Akkar plain, because Nitrates come principally from fertilizers in this area while fecal coliforms come from landfill leachates and untreated wastewaters. Nitrates and FC play associated roles in gastro-intestinal disturbance and Methemoglobinemia.

Health Risk Assessment on Drinking Water in Shenzhen, China

Objectives: To conduct health risk assessment on drinking water in 2012 in Shenzhen of China. Methods: The water quality monitoring data on product water and pipe water in 2012 were collected and analyzed, and the risk evaluation models recommended by the U.S. environmental protection agency (US EPA) were employed, to perform adults and children’s health risk assessments on the three kinds of genetic toxic substances such as hexavalent chromium, cadmium and arsenic and the 12 non-carcinogenic materials such as iron, manganese, lead, fluoride, volatile phenol, cyanide, mercury, ammonia nitrogen, nitrate, copper, zinc and selenium. Results: The results about water quality from the 150 factory samples and 207 peripheral water samples showed that the measured indicators in other water samples were accord with the National Health Standards (GB5749-2006) released by Ministry of Health of the People’s Republic of China, except manganese level in one factory sample and the same index in one peripheral sample, and nitrate concentration in another water sample were out of limit, respectively. Namely, the total of 3 samples was disqualification. The adults and children’s health risks (HI) on the 12 non-carcinogenic materials were 178.04 × 10-8 and 249.96 × 10-8 in the factor water samples, and 363.02 × 10-8 and 509.66 × 10-8 in the pipe samples, respectively. Lead in factory water and fluoride in peripheral water samples were the most serious harm in the all measured non-carcinogenic indicators. The adults and children’s cancer risks (R) on the 3 genetic toxic substances were 25.60 × 10-6 and 28.51 × 10-6 in the factor water samples, and 23.47 × 10-6 and 26.08 × 10-6 in the pipe samples, respectively. Hexavalent chromium was the most damage among the three detected carcinogenic indicators. Therefore, the total adults and children’s health hazard risks including the 3 carcinogenic and 12 non-carcinogenic substances were 27.38 × 10-6 and 31.00 × 10-6 in the factor water samples, and 27.10 × 10-6 and 31.17 × 10-6 in the pipe samples, respectively. Genetic toxic matters in drinking water are the main hazard and more children’s health risk than adults’ risk. Conclusions: The health risk (R) on the 15 kinds of chemicals in Shenzhen’s municipal water supply was in the range of maximum acceptable risk levels (5.0 × 10-5/a) recommended by the International Commission of Radiation Protection (ICRP). The results in this study indicate that the carcinogenic substances are greater risk comparing with the non-carcinogenic substances, and hexavalent chromium is the biggest carcinogenic risk, and lead and fluoride are the most non-carcinogenic risk, and the rather risk of children than adults.

Synoptic Analysis of Epidemiologic Evidence of Glioma Risk from Mobile Phones

Concern about brain cancer risks from mobile phone use, in particular of glioma, is mainly based on epidemiologic studies reporting on an increased risk estimate (odds ratio, OR) in particular of long-term and/or heavy users. Concern is enhanced by contradictory results and alarming conclusions from some epidemiologic studies. In a new synoptic approach all reported data from epidemiological studies published since 2001 were analyzed. This approach provided new insight with regard to the suspected link between mobile phone use and glioma. Two quite different data pools could be identified with numerous studies from one single research group opposing all other national and international studies. It could be shown that in spite of puzzling differences of their data pattern, in dependence of the number of exposed cases both data pools exhibit the similar trend of ORs towards reduced glioma risk with increasing statistical power, finally even converging towards a reduced risk, although from either side of the zero-risk line. While in the pooled data a potential long-term risk could be masked by reassuring short-term data the synoptic analysis in dependence of dose surrogates such as cumulated use time, cumulated call time or cumulated number of calls the seemingly increased long-term risk of glioma could be identified as an effect from low statistical power. In spite of worrying differences among some epidemiological studies, overall, the synoptic analysis of the entire body of data supports reassuring rather than alarming conclusions on glioma risks from mobile phone use even in long-term and/or heavy users.

Synoptic Analysis Clarifies Childhood Leukemia Risk from ELF Magnetic Field Exposure

In spite of 36 years epidemiologic research, there is still an ongoing controversy about a causal link between childhood leukemia (CL) and exposure to extremely low frequency (ELF) magnetic fields (MF). Public concern has been increased by the fact that ELF MF have been classified as possibly carcinogenic to humans (class 2B) while exposure limits still remain three orders of magnitudes above reported CL risk onset levels. In a new synoptic approach rather than few selected ORs, all reported epidemiological risk estimates (ORs) are analyzed, both pooled together as well as separated into sub-pools of different exposure metric as well as of high and low exposure levels. The results explain the worrying offset of ORs towards increased CL risk as well as the reported puzzling dose-response at low MF levels as an artifact caused by the small-number effect. The synoptic analysis clarifies that ORs critically depend on statistical power. With increasing statistical power ORs decrease and finally converge to and stay at zero risk. This is found consistently at the entire data pool as well as at all sub-pools related to investigated exposure parameters (wire code, distance to MF source, and magnetic field value). Former contradictory results can now be explained. The synoptic analysis provides convincing evidence that the risk of childhood leukemia is not increased by exposure to ELF magnetic fields. IARC’s classification of ELF MF needs revision.

Heavy Metals in Native Potato and Health Risk Assessment in Highland Andean Zones of Junín, Peru

Heavy metals are transferred from the abiotic environment to living organisms, accumulate in food, contaminate the food chain, and are an important route of human exposure involving a potential health risk. In this study, the concentrations of heavy metals (Cd, Fe, Pb, Zn and As) in agricultural soils and tubers of Solanum tuberosum spp. andigena (native potato) were evaluated. Also, an assessment of the health risk associated with the daily intake by the local population was performed in the four districts of the department of Junín, between altitudes of 3800 m to 4200 m. The heavy metals concentrations in soils with native potato cultivation followed the following decreasing order of Fe > Zn > Pb > As > Cd, with values below national standards. The heavy metals content in native potatoes was below the limits recommended by international standards with the exception of Pb. The bioconcentration factor (BCF) for the two native potato varieties in decreasing order was Zn > Cd > Pb > As > Fe, all less than 0.5. The estimated daily intake of metals (EDIM) in adults and children through the consumption of native potatoes was higher for Fe and Zn. The threshold carcinogenic risk values (TCR) for As exceeded the safety limits 1 × 10-4. It is concluded that the residents in the four high Andean localities would be exposed to carcinogenic adverse health effects associated with the intake of native potatoes. It is important to monitor the concentration of As and other heavy metals in the Andean soils and crops in order to implement a soil and crop management program to ensure food quality.

Health risk assessment for typical and abandoned chromium-contaminated sites

Chromium pollution were investigated by sampling the abandoned chromium contaminated sites in Chongqing. Its health risk was assessed following the procedures made by USEPA. The results showed that the most seriously polluted land was found at the former production area(G4) with average Cr(VI) concentration of 3369.2 mg·kg-1 on the surface soil. The assessment indicated that there was high risk of non-carcinogens for children. The assessed risk of the first layer of office area(G1) for children, chromium slag transition(G2), drainage pipeline chromium slag transition(G3) and production area(G4) for both children and adults were not acceptable(>1.00×10-6). It was strongly suggested that the accessible measures of remediation should be taken for a portion of contaminated sites before the reuse of abandoned lands.

Human Health Risks from Exposure to Heavy Metals of Suspended Particulate Matter around the Tongon Gold Mine, Côte d’Ivoire

The Tongon mine, the largest gold mine in C?te d’Ivoire, has been in operation since April 2010. However, to our knowledge to date, no study has been conducted on metallic contamination in suspended particulate matter (PM10 and PM2.5) where there is a lack of information on the carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic risk to human health associated with the exposure of populations in the Tongon area to these pollutants. The general objective of this study is to evaluate the level of contamination of PM10;PM2.5 by heavy metals and their impact on the health of populations exposed to these pollutants in the Tongon gold mine area. The sampling and measurement of suspended particulate matter (PM10 and PM2.5) were done using a MiniVol TAS passive air sampler. Heavy metal concentrations were determined by inductively coupled plasma mass spectroscopy (Nex ION 2000 ICP-MS, USA). The results indicate that the average concentrations of suspended particles (PM2.5 and PM10) obtained are all above the recommended exposure limits. In addition, among the heavy metals contained in the suspended particles, the concentrations of arsenic and nickel are high and all above the standard limit values. The assessment of the health risks related to the inhalation of PM10 particles reveals that their inhalation over a long period could cause a carcinogenic risk.