Toxic Metals in the Workplace: Assessing Heavy Metal Contaminants in Indoor Dust of Auto Parts Stores and Their Impact on Health of Employees

Automotive industry workers involved in car spare parts and maintenance have a substantial risk of heavy metal exposure in their line of work. In the present study, we collected 20 dust samples from different vehicle spare parts shops (with open- and closed main door) in the city of Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. These samples were analyzed for heavy metals using Agilent 7500cx Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectroscopy (ICP-MS). Zinc (Zn), lead (Pb), manganese (Mn), and copper (Cu) were the major heavy metals in indoor dust from both open- and closed-door shops. The levels of Pb and Cu were significantly high in the dust from closed door shops. The calculated value of the Integrated Lifetime Cancer Risk (ILCR) for adult workers ranged from 1.2 × 10^–4 to 8.4 × 10^–5, which signifies a moderate long term carcinogenic risk to the worker from the contaminated dust. The study highlights the importance of regular monitoring and the implementation of safety measures in closed-door shops to protect workers from exposure to harmful substances. Further research is needed to identify the sources of contamination and develop effective strategies for reducing the levels of heavy metals in occupational settings. It is important to implement proper ventilation systems and regular cleaning procedures, especially in closed-door shops to reduce the exposure of workers to harmful levels of heavy metals.