Air Pollution Exposure Modeling for Health Risk Assessment in Communities Near Industrial Emission Sources

Abstract

Communities located near industrial emission sources are frequently exposed to elevated levels of air pollutants that may cause significant adverse health effects and long-term environmental impacts. Accurate assessment of pollutant dispersion and population exposure is essential for effective environmental management and public health protection. This study presents an air pollution exposure modeling framework for health risk assessment in communities situated near industrial emission sources. The proposed approach integrates atmospheric dispersion modeling, pollutant concentration analysis, demographic assessment, and health risk evaluation techniques to quantify human exposure under varying environmental and operational conditions. A comprehensive investigation was conducted to analyze the dispersion behavior of major industrial air pollutants, including particulate matter, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, volatile organic compounds, and toxic gaseous emissions. Meteorological parameters such as wind speed, wind direction, temperature, atmospheric stability, and terrain characteristics were incorporated into the modeling framework to improve prediction accuracy and spatial distribution analysis. Exposure assessment results demonstrated that pollutant concentration levels and associated health risks significantly vary with proximity to emission sources, atmospheric conditions, and population density patterns. Comparative analysis revealed increased exposure intensity and elevated non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic health risks in densely populated regions located downwind of industrial facilities. The study further highlighted the importance of continuous air quality monitoring and integrated environmental modeling for identifying vulnerable communities and supporting effective pollution mitigation strategies.