Risks Assessment of Silica Contamination on the Communities Living Surround the Cement Industry, Pangkep Indonesia Mallongi Anwar1, Stang2, Manyullei Syamsuar1, Natsir Muhammad Fajar1, Astuti Ratna Dwi Puji3, Rauf Annisa Utami3 1Lecturer of Department of Environmental Health, Hasanuddin University, Makassar, Indonesia 2Professor of Department of Biostatistics, Hasanuddin University, Makassar, Indonesia 3Postgradute PhD Program of Faculty of Public Health, Hasanuddin University, Makassar, Indonesia Online published on 23 December, 2019. Abstract This study focused on the assessment of the potential risks of silica on the ecology and the estimated weekly intake due to the consumption of traditional cake, water and mixed fruits. Soils and traditional cakes were collected from the concerned area where water was collected from the river and drainage basin. Silica potentially toxic elements were analyzed in terms of concentration, potential ecological risk, and human health risk. The highest concentration of Silica pollutant around the Tonasa Cement Industry Pangkep were on well water with (16.18 mg/l), river water (18.12 mg/), sediment (41.11mg/l), surface soil (7, 92%) and air particulate (2.74%), respectively. In addition, the highest concentration of Silica (SiO2) around the Tonasa Cement Industry Pangkep on mixed fruits with (14.17mg/l), followed by traditional cake (7.26 mg/), and drinking water with (0.52mg/l), respectively. The potential ecological risks posed by silica on all those environment were considerable and moderate, respectively. Estimated weekly intake indicated that noncarcinogenic risks all fell below threshold values. The total carcinogenic risks due to silica was within the acceptable range for communities. This conclusion provides a scientific basis for the control of potentially toxic element pollution and environmental protection of the ecology and food for communities who are living surround the Cement Industry, Pangkep. Top Keywords Potentially silica toxic element, pollution level, well water, sediment, surface soil, ecological risk and weekly intake. Top |