A Temporal Analysis of Cancer Risk Associated with Cadmium and Arsenic Found in PM 2.5 in the University of Ilorin and its Environs; A probabilistic approach

As a result of the rapid industrialization of various cities in Nigeria, rural-urban migration, and the rapid increase in population, there has been a spike in the level of pollutants getting into the atmosphere which is majorly a result of various anthropogenic factors such as combustion of fuel, usage of vehicles, indiscriminate burning of refuse, just to mention a few. Air pollution has become a thing of concern due to the health effects associated with it such as Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), Lung Cancer, asthma, etc. This study aimed at analyzing cancer risks associated with PTMs (Cd and As) found PM _2.5 , Using a probabilistic approach. The concentrations of the PTMs that were analysed were collected from the Surface Particulate Matter Network (SPARTAN) which is mounted a the Department of Physics, University of Ilorin. The mean Concentration of Cd collected from this site ranged from 0.000377μg/m ³ and 0.00767μg/m ³ with the lowest being recorded in March, and highest in November. For As, the concentration ranged from 8.67e-05μg/m ³ and 0.00329μg/m ³ with the highest being recorded in November, and the lowest in March. Cd recorded concentrations that were higher than the WHO and EU set limits, in July (0.00648 μg/m ³ ), August (0.007487 μg/m ³ ), and November (0.00767 μg/m3). From the Monte Carlo Simulation for Cancer Risk assessment, it was found out that for Cd, the highest level of risk via inhalation was recorded in August with a value of 6.08e-03, and the least was recorded in March with a value of 3.06e-04 these values were a cause for concern. Via dermal contact, the least mean risk was recorded in October with a value of 1.47e-06, and the highest was recorded in August with a value of 2.94e-05 which were all in the safe zone. For As, via Inhalation the highest was recorded in November with a value of 2.36e-03, and the least was recorded in April with a value of 1.56e-04, while via dermal contact, the highest was recorded in November with a value of 3.81e-07, and the least was in April with a value of 1.01e-08. These results therefore indicated that via inhalation, both PTMs showed a great Cancer Risk, but the reverse was the case for dermal contact.