scholarly journals Spatial Contamination and Potential Ecological Risk Assessment of Heavy Metals in Farmland Soil around Nonferrous Metal Smeltery in North China

Minerals ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (12) ◽  
pp. 1357
Author(s):  
Dongmei Han ◽  
Xiliang Li ◽  
Menglu Wang ◽  
Shuxuan Liang

Nonferrous metallurgy is an important source of heavy metal in the environment and consequently poses potential risks to ecosystems. The impact of smelting on the surrounding envi-ronment is a concern. In this work, the content levels of selected heavy metals—chromium (Cr), nickel (Ni), copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), and arsenic (As)—were investigated separately in soil samples collected around two nonferrous metal smelteries using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). The spatial distribution characteristics of soil metal pollutants was studied by ArcGIS methods and the potential ecological risks were assessed by the Hakanson potential eco-logical hazard index. The results show that soils were heavily polluted by Cr, Ni, Cu, Zn, Cd, Pb, and As. Their mean contents in soil around Smeltery A were 88, 62, 103, 1200, 1.4, 146, and 69 mg/kg, respectively, and those around Smeltery B were 86, 59, 83, 117, 0.53, 57, and 65 mg/kg, respectively. Their contents were obviously higher than the background values of soil Cr (68 mg/kg), Ni (31 mg/kg), Cu (22 mg/kg), Zn (78 mg/kg), Cd (0.09 mg/kg), Pb (22 mg/kg), and As (14 mg/kg). The distribution pattern in soil and risk assessment results show that the pollution surrounding the two smelteries reached intense and moderate ecological hazard and that the contribution of Cd and As was up to 87.05% and 82.59%, respectively. These results suggest that metal smelting makes a considerable contribution to soil pollution.

Atmosphere ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (7) ◽  
pp. 891
Author(s):  
Chikumbusko Chiziwa Kaonga ◽  
Ishmael Bobby Mphangwe Kosamu ◽  
Wells Robert Utembe

This review gives insights into the levels of metals in urban dust, their determination methods, and risk assessment. Urban dust harbors a number of pollutants, including heavy metals. There are various methods used for the sampling of urban dust for heavy-metal analysis and source-apportionment purposes, with the predominant one being the use of plastic sampling materials to avoid prior contamination. There are also various methods for the determination of metals, which include: atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS) and inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS), among others. Studies have shown that pollutants in urban dust are mainly derived from industrial activities and coal combustion, whereas traffic emissions are also an important, but not a predominant source of pollution. The varying particle-size distribution of urban dust and its large surface area makes it easier for the deposition and transport of heavy metals. Risk-assessment studies have shown that metals in urban dust could cause such problems as human pulmonary toxicity and reduction of invertebrate populations. The risk levels seem to be higher in children than adults, as some studies have shown. It is therefore important that studies on metals in urban dust should always incorporate risk assessment as one of the main issues.


Plants ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 3
Author(s):  
Nur Syahirah Zulkafflee ◽  
Nurul Adillah Mohd Redzuan ◽  
Jinap Selamat ◽  
Mohd Razi Ismail ◽  
Sarva Mangala Praveena ◽  
...  

Heavy metals from natural and anthropogenic sources accumulate in soil and plants and as a consequence represent important environmental contamination problems. Nevertheless, food safety issues and adverse health risks make this one of the most serious environmental issues. The aim of the present study was to assess heavy metal contamination in the paddy plants from the northern area of Malaysia using Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICPMS) and its risk assessment. In total, the heavy metals (As, Cd, Cu, Cr, and Pb) of the samples of paddy plants harvested from Kedah areas were extracted using an acid digestion method, while the heavy metals for soil samples using ammonium acetate. The heavy metal concentrations were then analysed using Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS). The enrichment (EF) and translocation factors (TF) of heavy metals were calculated, and health risk assessment (HRA) was performed. The EF values for heavy metals from the soil to roots, roots to stems, stems to leaves, and stems to grains followed the order Cu > As > Cr > Cd > Pb, whereas Cr and Pb were characterized by greater TF values from stem to grain than the other elements. The average daily dose (ADD) for both children and adults is below the safe value intake for each of the studied elements. The combined hazard index (HI) of five elements was beyond the acceptable value (HI >1). The carcinogenic risk, as exemplified by lifetime cancer risk (LCR), indicated that single exposure to As or Cr, in both adults and children, was greater than 10−4. The total cancer risk (CRt) resulting from multiple exposure to carcinogenic elements exceeded the acceptable value (CRt >1 ×10−4) in both adults and children. Overall, exposure to heavy metals through rice consumption poses potential non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic health risks to the local residents in the northern area; thus, regular monitoring of pollution in the area is crucial.


2021 ◽  
pp. 096032712199321
Author(s):  
M Charehsaz ◽  
S Helvacıoğlu ◽  
S Çetinkaya ◽  
R Demir ◽  
O Erdem ◽  
...  

In this study, the level of arsenic (As), lead (Pb) and cadmium (Cd) and also essential elements in beer samples consumed in Turkey were investigated using the inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) method. The heavy metal-induced non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic risks were calculated. For essential elements, the calculated estimated daily intake of iron (Fe), copper (Cu), selenium (Se) and cobalt (Co) from beer consumption were compared with their toxicity reference values. Tukey post-hoc test showed that As was found at a significantly higher level when compared to Pb. Also, a significant correlation was found between As level and alcohol by volume percent. All samples had a hazard quotient and hazard index <1, indicating no non-carcinogenic risk from exposure to single or multiple heavy metals. Some samples exceeded the threshold limit of acceptable cancer risk for As in the high beer consumer group. This assessment showed that in addition to health implications based on the alcohol content of beer, there might be a carcinogenic risk associated with the heavy metals content of these beverages.


Toxics ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (6) ◽  
pp. 133
Author(s):  
Ana Macías-Montes ◽  
Manuel Zumbado ◽  
Octavio P. Luzardo ◽  
Ángel Rodríguez-Hernández ◽  
Andrea Acosta-Dacal ◽  
...  

Dry feed for pets lacks specific legislation regarding maximum residue limits for inorganic elements. The aim of the present study was to determine the content of 43 inorganic elements in dog and cat feed, studying whether there were differences according to the supposed quality of the food and performing the risk assessment for health. Thirty-one and thirty packages of pelleted dry food for cats and dogs, respectively, were analyzed. After acidic microwave-assisted digestion, elements were detected and quantified by Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS). In general, we did not observe important differences in the content of elements according to the supposed quality of the brand. Among trace elements, selenium and manganese are above the dietary reference value. Arsenic and mercury showed the highest acute hazard indexes, which make them risk factors for the health of dogs and cats. Aluminum, uranium, antimony and vanadium contents were above the toxic reference value and showed the highest acute hazard indexes. It is necessary to improve the legislation regarding the food safety of pets, for their health and to protect the rights of consumers.


Toxics ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (12) ◽  
pp. 320
Author(s):  
Chuanyou Su ◽  
Yanan Gao ◽  
Xueyin Qu ◽  
Xuewei Zhou ◽  
Xue Yang ◽  
...  

This study evaluated chromium (Cr), arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), and lead (Pb) contamination in raw milk from industrial areas in China, identified the possible pathways of heavy metals from the environment to raw milk, and made a risk assessment of the consumption of heavy metals from milk consumption. The Cr, As, Cd, and Pb concentrations in raw milk, water and silage were analyzed using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. The Cr and As in soil were analyzed by flame atomic absorption spectrometry and atomic fluorescence spectrometry, respectively. Cd and Pb in soil were determined by a Graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrophotometer. The Cr and As concentrations in milk from industrial areas were 2.41 ± 2.12 and 0.44 ± 0.31 μg/kg, respectively, which were significantly higher (p < 0.01) than those from non-industrial areas, which had levels of 1.10 ± 0.15 and 0.25 ± 0.09 μg/kg, respectively. Chromium was mainly transferred through the soil-silage-milk pathway, As was transferred through the water-silage-milk pathway, while Cd was mainly transferred through the soil (water)-silage-milk pathway. The contributions of each metal to the overall hazard index (HI) followed a descending order of As, Cr, Pb, and Cd, with values of 46.64%, 25.54%, 24.30%, and 3.52%, respectively. Children were at higher risk than adults.


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