Hazardous Heavy Metals Accumulation and Health Risk Assessment of Different Vegetable Species in Contaminated Soils from a Typical Mining City, Central China

Heavy metal poisoning has caused serious and widespread human tragedies via the food chain. To alleviate heavy metal pollution, particular attention should be paid to low accumulating vegetables and crops. In this study, the concentrations of five hazardous heavy metals (HMs), including copper (Cu), chromium (Cr), lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), and arsenic (As) were determined from soils, vegetables, and crops near four typical mining and smelting zones. Nemerow’s synthetical pollution index (Pn), Potential ecological risk index (RI), and Geo-accumulation index (Igeo) were used to characterize the pollution degrees. The results showed that soils near mining and metal smelting zones were heavily polluted by Cu, Cd, As, and Pb. The total excessive rate followed a decreasing order of Cd (80.00%) > Cu (61.11%) > As (45.56%) > Pb (32.22%) > Cr (0.00%). Moreover, sources identification indicated that Cu, Pb, Cd, and As may originate from anthropogenic activities, while Cr may originate from parent materials. The exceeding rates of Cu, Cr, Pb, Cd, and As were 6.7%, 6.7%, 66.7%, 80.0%, and 26.7% among the vegetable and crop species, respectively. Particularly, vegetables like tomatoes, bell peppers, white radishes, and asparagus, revealed low accumulation characteristics. In addition, the hazard index (HI) for vegetables and crops of four zones was greater than 1, revealing a higher risk to the health of local children near the mine and smelter. However, the solanaceous fruit has a low-risk index (HI), indicating that it is a potentially safe vegetable type.

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Heavy Metal Loading in Surface Sediments along the Kawere Stream, Tarkwa, Ghana

Ghana Mining Journal ◽

10.4314/gm.v20i2.9 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 20 (2) ◽

pp. 77-85

Author(s):

S. A. Ndur ◽

S. Y. Nyarko ◽

I. Quaicoe ◽

L. B. Osei

Keyword(s):

Heavy Metals ◽

Heavy Metal ◽

Ecological Risk ◽

Anthropogenic Activities ◽

Risk Index ◽

Sediment Quality ◽

Ecological Integrity ◽

Pollution Assessment ◽

Well Being ◽

Potential Ecological Risk

Sediment contamination by heavy metals resulting from anthropogenic activities is increasingly becoming a global concern due to the risk it poses to human well-being and ecological integrity at large. The purpose of this study was to assess the heavy metals loading in sediment along the Kawere stream. Ten sediment samples were collected, acid digested and analysed for copper (Cu), lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), manganese (Mn), zinc (Zn), nickel (Ni), chromium (Cr), cobalt (Co) and iron (Fe) using a Varian AA240FS Atomic Absorption Spectrometer (AAS). The Australian and New Zealand Environment and Conservation Council (ANZECC) guidelines for freshwater sediment quality was used as the benchmark against which the measured metal concentrations were compared. Nemerow’s pollution and potential ecological risk indices were used to evaluate the pollution status and ecological risk levels of the heavy metals in the stream. The results obtained indicated that, except Cu which exceeded the ANZECC trigger value of 65 mg/kg at three sampling sites (K01=171.29 mg/kg, K05=170.83 mg/kg and K07=113.31 mg/kg), all other measured heavy metals concentrations were below their corresponding ANZECC values. Heavy metal pollution assessment showed that three samples (K01, K05 and K07) were slightly polluted, suggesting the likelihood of posing a health threat to the aquatic organisms and humans. Calculated Ecological Risk Index (RI) ranged from 3.229 to 19.750 (RI < 150), representing a low ecological risk. As such, the metals, Cu, Ni, Cd, Pb, Cr, and Zn pose a low ecological risk to the aquatic ecosystem. Although the ecological risk is low based on the current results, constant monitoring of the stream quality is recommended due to the increasing human activities along the stream as well as the sediments ability to accumulate and remobilise heavy metals back into the water column and possibly transferring them through the food chain. Keywords: Heavy Metals, Sediment, Ecological Risk Assessment, Pollution, Stream

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The Contamination Status of Heavy Metal in the Sediment of Beng River and the Protection for the Ecological Safety Engineering

Advanced Materials Research ◽

10.4028/www.scientific.net/amr.726-731.1809 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 726-731 ◽

pp. 1809-1812

Author(s):

Ji Cai Qiu

Keyword(s):

Heavy Metals ◽

Heavy Metal ◽

Ecological Risk ◽

River Sediment ◽

Risk Index ◽

Pollution Index ◽

Potential Ecological Risk ◽

Sediment Pollution ◽

Ecological Risk Index ◽

Rubber Dam

To find out the heavy metal pollution condition from the Beng River sediment, we see the region from Beng River Rubber Dam to the Yimeng Road Bridge as research object.We monitored and surveyed on the three kinds of metal components (Cu, Zn, Cd) in the sediments from eight sectionsthe. With reference to the relevant domestic standards, we established sediment pollution evaluation criteria suitable for the region., We conducted the evaluation of ecological risk and pollution levels with the detection results by standard index of the potential ecological risk index and Nemerow France France. The results showed that: the heavy metals ecological risk index in Sediment from Beng River Rubber Dam to the Yimeng Road bridge section, Nemerow pollution index was 6.95, It was heavily polluted. This showed that the heavy metals in river sediment pollution was very serious.

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Potential Ecological Risks of Heavy Metals in Agricultural Soil Alongside Highways and Their Relationship with Landscape

Agriculture ◽

10.3390/agriculture11080800 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (8) ◽

pp. 800

Author(s):

Cong Xu ◽

Jie Pu ◽

Bo Wen ◽

Min Xia

Keyword(s):

Heavy Metals ◽

Heavy Metal ◽

Ecological Risk ◽

Human Activities ◽

Agricultural Soil ◽

Risk Index ◽

Pollution Index ◽

Potential Ecological Risk ◽

Ecological Risks ◽

Ecological Risk Index

The agricultural soil alongside highways has experienced multiple potential ecological risks from human activities. In this study, 100 soil samples near the highways were collected in Lishui District, Nanjing City. Using the single-factor pollution index, the Nemerow comprehensive pollution index, and the potential ecological risk index, the study investigated the heavy metal contents and distribution in roadside agricultural soil. PCA and a multiple regression model were applied to quantitatively analyze the spatial relationships between sampling soil heavy metal accumulation and the surrounding man-made landscape. The mean contents of Cu and Pb exceeded the background, while Cd, Cr, and Zn were lower than that. The potential ecological risk index exhibited a very low ecological hazard and only Cr in soils rarely showed moderate risk. Furthermore, quantitative analysis for the sources of contamination revealed that agricultural practices were the dominant contributors to the heavy metals, including Cd, Cu, and Zn, while road and heavy industrial practices contributed to Cr and Pb. The study provides sources of heavy metal pollution from human activities in roadside agricultural land and serves as a reference for ecological restoration.

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Assessment of Heavy Metal Pollution Levels in Sediments and of Ecological Risk by Quality Indices, Applying a Case Study: The Lower Danube River, Romania

Water ◽

10.3390/w13131801 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 13 (13) ◽

pp. 1801

Author(s):

Valentina Andreea Calmuc ◽

Madalina Calmuc ◽

Maxim Arseni ◽

Catalina Maria Topa ◽

Mihaela Timofti ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Heavy Metals ◽

Heavy Metal ◽

Ecological Risk ◽

Metal Pollution ◽

Heavy Metal Pollution ◽

Surface Sediments ◽

Risk Index ◽

Potential Ecological Risk ◽

Danube River ◽

Pollution Indices

It is a well–known fact that heavy metal pollution in sediments causes serious problems not only in the Danube basin, but also in the large and small adjacent river streams. A suitable method for assessing the level of heavy metals and their toxicity in sediments is the calculation of pollution indices. The present research aims to assess heavy metal pollution in the Lower Danube surface sediments collected along the Danube course (between 180 and 60 km) up to the point where the Danube River flows into the Danube Delta Biosphere Reserve (a United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization – UNESCO, protected area). In addition, this monitored area is one of the largest European hydrographic basins. Five heavy metals (Cd, Ni, Zn, Pb, Cu) were analyzed in two different seasons, i.e., the autumn of 2018 and the spring of 2019, using the Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP– MS) technique. Our assessment of heavy metal pollution revealed two correlated aspects: 1. a determination of the potential risks of heavy metals in sediments by calculating the Potential Ecological Risk Index (RI), and 2. an evaluation of the influence of anthropogenic activities on the level of heavy metal contamination in the surface sediments, using three specific pollution indices, namely, the Geo–Accumulation Index (Igeo), the Contamination Factor (CF), and the Pollution Load Index (PLI). The results of this pioneering research activity in the region highlighted the presence of moderate metal (Ni and Cd) pollution and a low potential ecological risk for the aquatic environment.

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Heavy Metals Distribution, Sources, and Ecological Risk Assessment in Huixian Wetland, South China

Water ◽

10.3390/w12020431 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 12 (2) ◽

pp. 431

Author(s):

Liangliang Huang ◽

Saeed Rad ◽

Li Xu ◽

Liangying Gui ◽

Xiaohong Song ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Heavy Metals ◽

Risk Assessment ◽

Ecological Risk ◽

South China ◽

Ecological Risk Assessment ◽

Risk Index ◽

Pollution Index ◽

Principal Component ◽

Potential Ecological Risk ◽

Anthropogenic Sources

This research has focused on the source identification, concentration, and ecological risk assessment of eight heavy metals in the largest karst wetland (Huixian) of south China. Numerous samples from superficial soil and sediment within ten representative landuse types were collected and examined, and the results were analyzed using multiple methods. Single pollution index (Pi) results were underpinned by the Geoaccumulation index (Igeo) method, in which Cd was observed as the priority pollutant with the highest contamination degree in this area. As for the most polluted landuse type, via applying Nemerow’s synthetical contamination index (PN) and Potential ecological risk index (RI), the river and rape field posed the highest ecological risks, while moderate for the rest. To quantify the drivers of the contaminants, a principal component analysis (PCA) was carried out and weathering of the watershed’s parent carbonate rocks was found to be the main possible origin, followed by anthropogenic sources induced by agricultural fertilizer. Considering the impacts of these potentially toxic elements on public health, the results of this study are essential to take preventive actions for environmental protection and sustainable development in the region.

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Distribution Characteristics and Risk Evaluation of Cd and Hg in Sediments on the Zhenjiang Ancient Canal River

Advanced Materials Research ◽

10.4028/www.scientific.net/amr.726-731.296 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 726-731 ◽

pp. 296-300

Author(s):

Zhi Gang Chen ◽

An Ping Wei ◽

Xiao Hong Zhou

Keyword(s):

Heavy Metals ◽

Heavy Metal ◽

Heavy Metal Contamination ◽

Risk Index ◽

Potential Ecological Risk ◽

Middle Part ◽

Average Value ◽

Heavy Metal Element ◽

Individual Potential ◽

The Individual

The purpose of this paper is to study the speciation and contents of two types of heavy metals (Cd and Hg) in the sediments in Power Bridge (D1) and Nanshui Bridge (N2) in the middle part of the Ancient Canal in Zhenjiang. The relationship between the speciation of these heavy metals and their environmental factors were described. Morerover, the ecological hazard and trace to the source of these two types of heavy metals was also determined preliminarily. The results showed that (1) the main heavy metal contamination in the sediments of Power Bridge and Nanshui Bridge is Cd, and the average value is 20 mg/Kg, 17 mg/Kg, respectively, which were higher than environmental background value;(2) The peak value of Hg and Cd were near equilibrium in the 0.1-0.2m depth of Sediments; (3) Calculate the individual potential ecological risk index in the sediments of heavy metal element of two sample points both quantity of contents are Cd>Hg. And visible ecological threat of heavy metals were from Cd. After removing the Cd value, the RI value showed that ecological harm index basically below mild ecological harm degree.

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Uptake of Heavy Metals from Urban Wastewater Contaminated Soils by Using Selected Crop Species of Mysuru City, India

IRA-International Journal of Applied Sciences (ISSN 2455-4499) ◽

10.21013/jas.v4.n3.p18 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 4 (3) ◽

pp. 553

Author(s):

Abhilash M.R ◽

Srikantaswamy S ◽

Shiva Kumar D

Keyword(s):

Heavy Metals ◽

Heavy Metal ◽

Contaminated Soils ◽

Metal Uptake ◽

Field Experiments ◽

Ecological Factors ◽

Field Studies ◽

Contaminated Sites ◽

Urban Wastewater ◽

Crop Species

<div><p><em>Heavy metals are among the most important sorts of pollutant in the environment. Numerous methods already used to clean up the environment from these kinds of contaminants, but most of them are costly and difficult to get optimum results. F</em><em>actors influencing heavy metal uptake by Crops were studied by pot and field experiments in Mysuru City, India. Results concern with soils is contaminated with Urban Wastewater. In this paper demonstrated effects on the heavy metal content of eight cultivated crop species, in three wastewater contaminated sites of Mysuru City. Interaction between ecological factors and crop characters was demonstrated, as well as results of pot and field studies were compared. Tested plant species were grouped on the basis of their accumulation capability and susceptibility of heavy metals.</em></p></div>

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Distribution and Potential Ecological Risk of Heavy Metals in Water, Sediments, and Aquatic Macrophytes: A Case Study of the Junction of Four Rivers in Linyi City, China

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph16162861 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 16 (16) ◽

pp. 2861 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Xiuling Li ◽

Henglun Shen ◽

Yongjun Zhao ◽

Weixing Cao ◽

Changwei Hu ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Heavy Metals ◽

Heavy Metal ◽

Plant Species ◽

Ecological Risk ◽

Metal Pollution ◽

Heavy Metal Pollution ◽

Aquatic Macrophyte ◽

Risk Index ◽

Potential Ecological Risk ◽

Metal Concentrations

The Yi River, the second longest river in Shandong Province, China, flows through Linyi City and is fed by three tributary rivers, Beng River, Liuqing River, and Su River in the northeastern part of the city. In this study, we determined the concentrations of five heavy metals (Cr, Ni, Cu, Zn, and Pb) in water, sediment, and aquatic macrophyte samples collected from the junction of the four rivers and evaluated the potential ecological risk of heavy metal pollution. Most of the heavy metals in water were in low concentrations with the water quality index (WQI) below 1, suggesting low metal pollution. The sediments showed low heavy metal concentrations, suggesting a low ecological risk based on the potential ecological risk index (RI) and the geo-accumulation index (Igeo). The aquatic plant species Potamogeton crispus accumulated considerable amounts of heavy metals, which were closely related to the metal concentrations of the sediment. The plant species Salvinia natans also showed an excellent metal accumulation capability. Based on our results, the junction of the four rivers is only slightly polluted in terms of heavy metals, and the plant species P. crispus is a suitable bioindicator for sediment heavy metal pollution.

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Use of phytoremediation and biochar to remediate heavy metal polluted soils: a review

Solid Earth ◽

10.5194/se-5-65-2014 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 5 (1) ◽

pp. 65-75 ◽

Cited By ~ 215

Author(s):

J. Paz-Ferreiro ◽

H. Lu ◽

S. Fu ◽

A. Méndez ◽

G. Gascó

Keyword(s):

Heavy Metals ◽

Heavy Metal ◽

Contaminated Soils ◽

State Of The Art ◽

Anthropogenic Activities ◽

Sustainable Use ◽

Research Needs ◽

Polluted Soils ◽

Environmental Technologies ◽

The Cost

Abstract. Anthropogenic activities are resulting in an increase of the use and extraction of heavy metals. Heavy metals cannot be degraded and hence accumulate in the environment, having the potential to contaminate the food chain. This pollution threatens soil quality, plant survival and human health. The remediation of heavy metals deserves attention, but it is impaired by the cost of these processes. Phytoremediation and biochar are two sound environmental technologies which could be at the forefront to mitigate soil pollution. This review provides an overview of the state of the art of the scientific research on phytoremediation and biochar application to remediate heavy-metal-contaminated soils. Research to date has attempted only in a limited number of occasions to combine both techniques, however we discuss the potential advantages of combining both, and the potential mechanisms involved in the interaction between phytoremediators and biochar. We identified specific research needs to ensure a sustainable use of phytoremediation and biochar as remediation tools.

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Historical Evolution of Sources and Pollution Levels of Heavy Metals in the Sediment of the Shuanglong Reservoir, China

Water ◽

10.3390/w12071855 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 12 (7) ◽

pp. 1855 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Zike Zhou ◽

Yongping Wang ◽

Haowei Teng ◽

Hao Yang ◽

Aiju Liu ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Heavy Metals ◽

Heavy Metal ◽

Ecological Risk ◽

Metal Content ◽

Risk Index ◽

Potential Ecological Risk ◽

Heavy Metal Content ◽

Ecological Risk Index ◽

Potential Ecological Risk Index ◽

Pollution Levels

In this study, the concentrations of seven heavy metals (Cr, Ni, Cu, Zn, As, Hg, and Pb) and Pb isotope in a sediment core from the Shuanglong reservoir, Southwestern China, were investigated. Based on the constant rate of supply (CRS) model, the age span of a 60 cm sediment sample was determined to range from the years 1944 to 2015. Combined with chronology and heavy metal content, the evolution of the sources and pollution levels of heavy metals showed a changing trend composed of various stages. The sources of heavy metals transitioned from natural origins in 1944–1964 to industrial origins in 1965–2004. The subsequent reduction in heavy metal content was mainly due to the vigorous implementation of environmental protection policies from 2005 to 2012. In recent years (2013–2015), the heavy metal content has increased due to frequent human activity. Principal component analysis (PCA), correlation analysis, and the coefficient of variation (CV) analysis indicated that Cr, Ni, Cu, Zn, and As were derived from natural processes, Pb mainly came from automobile manufacturing, and Hg was mainly from industrial sources. The values of the geo-accumulation index (Ig), single pollution index (Pi), and single potential ecological risk index (Er) showed that the contamination of Hg and Pb was slight to moderate. Moreover, the values of the potential ecological risk index (RI), pollution load index (PLI), and Nemerow index (PN) indicated that the Shuanglong reservoir is under low ecological risk.

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