A novel approach to estimating potential maximum heavy metal exposure to ship recycling yard workers in Alang, India

► Conceptual framework to apportion pollution loads from plate-cutting in ship recycling. ► Estimates upper bound (pollutants in air) and lower bound (intertidal sediments). ► Mathematical model using vector addition approach and based on Gaussian dispersion. ► Model predicted maximum emissions of heavy metals at different wind speeds. ► Exposure impacts on a worker's health and the intertidal sediments can be assessed.