Risk Assessment of NH3 and H2S in Coastal and Complex Sectors in Egypt by Using AirQ+ Software

Abstract

The aim of the present study is to assess the health risks of NH3 and H2S gases in two different sectors in Egypt, one of them is a complex sector (represents a residential, industrial and agriculture sector) and the other is a coastal tourism sector. Hospital admissions respiratory disease (HARD) cases living in the two Sectors was also estimated during one year, due to exposure to NH3 and H2S gases using the AirQ+ Software. Concentration levels of gaseous pollutants (NH3 and H2S) were measured from December 2019 to November 2020. Daily mean concentrations of NH3 and H2S at the mixed sector (68.15, and 50.06 µg/m³, respectively) were higher than those in the coastal sector (23.92 and 24.10 µg/m³, respectively). The daily mean concentrations of NH3 in both sectors were less than the Egyptian and international Permissible limits. Non-carcinogenic risk (HQ) of H2S in the mixed region was higher than 1; indicating high adverse chronic health effects occur due to exposure to H2S according to US EPA. In addition, the estimated number of hospital admissions respiratory diseases (HARD) Cases per 100,000 population living were 3 (1 - 6) and 4 (2 - 7) for NH3 and H2S, respectively in the coastal sector, while they were 392 (358 - 410) and 569 (347 - 576) for NH3 and H2S, respectively in the mixed sector. Finally, Air Q+ Software is a valid and reliable tool for estimating short-term risk effects of NH3 and H2S, and can predicts hospital admissions respiratory diseases (HARD) cases attributed to NH3 and H2S gases.