Heavy metal pollution and health risk assessment of agricultural soil near a smelter in an industrial city in China
To assess heavy metal pollution and human health risk, a total of 28 topsoil samples were collected during four seasons from seven agricultural soil sites near a famous smelter in Jiyuan, China. The maximum concentrations of Cd, Pb, Hg, As, Zn, Cu, Ni, and Cr were 26.00, 2601.00, 3.29,
65.00, 410.00, 156.30, 54.80, and 73.60 mg kg−1, respectively. Compared with the sampling site nearest to the smelter, the concentrations of six metals at the farthest site were decreased significantly (P < 0.05). All sites were heavily contaminated, with Nemerow
index (P) >3.0, and all sites had very high ecological risks related to Cd and Hg. The non-carcinogenic risk for children (based on combined exposure to the eight metals) was above the safety level. The carcinogenic risk of As for adults (8.98 × 10–6) and
children (1.49 × 10–5) exceeded the acceptable level (1 × 10–6). Results suggest a serious health risk in the polluted areas, particularly for children.
Abbreviation Cd: Cadmium; Pb: Lead; Hg: Mercury; As: Arsenic; Zn: Zinc; Cu: Copper; Ni: Nickel; Cr: Chromium; P: Nemerow index; RI: Potential ecological risk index; Ei: Monomial potential ecological risk of a specific heavy metal; HI: non-carcinogenic hazard index; CR: Carcinogenic risk; TN: Total nitrogen; TP: Total phosphorus; OM: Organic matter; MC: Moisture content; ADD: Average daily dose
Abbreviation Cd: Cadmium; Pb: Lead; Hg: Mercury; As: Arsenic; Zn: Zinc; Cu: Copper; Ni: Nickel; Cr: Chromium; P: Nemerow index; RI: Potential ecological risk index; Ei: Monomial potential ecological risk of a specific heavy metal; HI: non-carcinogenic hazard index; CR: Carcinogenic risk; TN: Total nitrogen; TP: Total phosphorus; OM: Organic matter; MC: Moisture content; ADD: Average daily dose
Keywords: Smelting; agricultural soil; ecological risk; health risk; heavy metals
Document Type: Research Article
Affiliations: 1: Department of Environmental Health, College of Public Health, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, China 2: Zhejiang Biosan Biochemical Technologies Co. Ltd, ., Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China 3: Luoyang Orthopedic Hospital of Henan Province, Luoyang, Henan, China
Publication date: 03 March 2020
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