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<p>The Atacama Desert is among the most arid environments on the planet where human settlements are found. Sandstorms are atmospheric events capable of transporting and depositing particulate matter enriched with potentially toxic metal(loid)s in urban environments, thereby increasing human exposure risks. The objective of this study was to quantify metal(loid) levels in soil and dust following the 2022 sandstorm in Diego de Almagro, Chile, evaluating the resulting health risks for adult and pediatric populations. A total of 60 samples (30 soils + 30 settled dust) were collected and analyzed for Pb, As, Cu, Cr, Co, Ni, and Zn using ICP-OES, while health risk assessment was conducted following EPA guidelines. Results showed significantly higher concentrations of most elements in settled dust compared to soils, particularly Cu, Pb, Co, Zn, and As. Health risk assessment revealed that ingestion was the dominant exposure pathway, with children exhibiting higher non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic risks than adults. These findings demonstrate that sandstorms act as effective vectors for redistributing contaminated particles, enhancing environmental and human exposure. Post-event monitoring and targeted mitigation strategies are strongly recommended, particularly to protect vulnerable populations.</p>

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Geochemistry of soils and dust in the Atacama Desert following a sandstorm: Human health risk assessment in a mining city of northern Chile

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2026年6月18日

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  • Ignacia Hernandez-Gatica,
  • Winfred Espejo,
  • José E. Celis,
  • Walter Espejo,
  • Walter Valdivia-Cea,
  • Marco Sandoval

摘要

The Atacama Desert is among the most arid environments on the planet where human settlements are found. Sandstorms are atmospheric events capable of transporting and depositing particulate matter enriched with potentially toxic metal(loid)s in urban environments, thereby increasing human exposure risks. The objective of this study was to quantify metal(loid) levels in soil and dust following the 2022 sandstorm in Diego de Almagro, Chile, evaluating the resulting health risks for adult and pediatric populations. A total of 60 samples (30 soils + 30 settled dust) were collected and analyzed for Pb, As, Cu, Cr, Co, Ni, and Zn using ICP-OES, while health risk assessment was conducted following EPA guidelines. Results showed significantly higher concentrations of most elements in settled dust compared to soils, particularly Cu, Pb, Co, Zn, and As. Health risk assessment revealed that ingestion was the dominant exposure pathway, with children exhibiting higher non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic risks than adults. These findings demonstrate that sandstorms act as effective vectors for redistributing contaminated particles, enhancing environmental and human exposure. Post-event monitoring and targeted mitigation strategies are strongly recommended, particularly to protect vulnerable populations.