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Abstract: Ambient air quality in and around the city of Ružomberok, located in northern Slovakia is influenced by a variety of malodorous reduced sulfur compounds in emissions from the pulp mill factory, which uses the kraft process. Reduced sulfur compounds are a group of inorganic and organic chemicals containing sulfur atoms in their lowest oxidation state (S2-), including hydrogen sulfide, mercaptans, dimethyl sulfide, dimethyl disulfide and other sulfur compounds. We present results from a screening level human health exposure and risk assessment of these malodorous compounds in the Ružomberok area. Analyses are based on ambient air quality monitoring data collected by the pulp mill factory and the Slovak Ministry of the Environment Hydrometeorological Institute (HI). Pulp mill factory data include measurements of total reduced sulfur compounds (TRS) and hydrogen sulfide from the year 2002. HI provided continuous monitoring of ambient TRS in one station located in this area. Samples were collected at nine sites chosen based on evaluation of geographic, climatic and demographic factors, and screening level exposure and risk assessments were performed for five exposure localities. Screening level analyses include calculation of hazard indices for each locality based on average daily dose. In addition, recommendations for health risk management at the governmental, private, and municipal level are presented.

Keyword: total reduced sulfur (TRS); hydrogen sulfide, environmental exposure, hazard quotient (HQ).