Sporting footpaths and toxic dust: a risk-based assessment of urban, suburban, and rural exposure

This study aims to assess the concentrations of potentially toxic elements (PTEs) in deposited dust (DD) from urban, suburban, and residential sporting footpaths (UFPs, SFPs, and RFPs) in Coimbatore, India, and evaluate the associated ecological and health risks. Dust samples were collected from sporting footpaths located in urban, suburban, and residential areas. The total concentrations of PTEs were found to be in USFs (1431 mg/kg), SFs (1073 mg/kg), and RSFs (892 mg/kg). EFs for cadmium exceeded 185, suggesting severe contamination. Ecological risk assessment indicated that cadmium was the primary contributor, accounting for 84.7% of the total ecological risk. Health risk analysis showed that children on USFs faced non-carcinogenic risks that were 5.5 times higher than those of adults, with the highest carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic risks observed in USFs, followed by SSFs and RSFs. This study highlights the significant pollution of sporting footpaths in urban areas, particularly with cadmium, which poses elevated risks to children's health. These findings suggest a need for targeted pollution management strategies to minimize exposure to PTEs, especially in areas with high pedestrian activity. Future research should focus on the long-term health impacts and evaluate pollution control measures for reducing PTE contamination in urban public spaces.