scholarly journals Heavy Metal Pollution Near a Tannery in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia

2017 ◽  
Vol 7 (16) ◽  
pp. 2-11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Erdenesaikhan Naidansuren ◽  
Altangerel Dondog ◽  
Batmunkh Erdenesaikhan ◽  
Enkhbayar Byambanyam

Background. Due to an increase in population density and industrialization, the capital city of Mongolia, Ulaanbaatar, has been experiencing an increase in environmental pollution; especially soil contamination. Environmental pollutants include solid waste, silt and wastewater coming out of tanneries in three micro districts of the Khan-Uul district of Ulaanbaatar. Among the many types of chemicals these tanneries use, chromium (III) sulfate (Cr2(SO4)3) poses the most serious environmental health risk. In addition, the surrounding areas around the tanneries include schools, hospitals and residential buildings, presenting additional risks to the people living and working in this area. Objectives. The present study aims to identify heavy metal contamination in the tannery area using a portable x-ray fluorescence reader (XRF). Methods. The study area (112 ha) was divided into 6 zones depending on usage and XRF readings were taken in each zone. Results. Results showed a mean or median lead (Pb) concentration of 2–405 mg/kg (33±2), chromium (Cr) concentration of 18–10,752 mg/kg (685±80), zinc (Zn) concentration of 5–1,316 mg/kg (113±6.5), and arsenic (As) concentration of 0–84 mg/kg (10.2±0.46) Five soil samples were collected from sites where Cr concentrations were extremely elevated and analyzed in two different laboratories to confirm XRF readings. Using the results from XRF readings and two different lab results, heavy metal distribution mapping was produced using geographic information system (GIS) tools, statistical processing tools and pollution indices for each heavy metal were determined using base heavy metals content in the soil. The distribution percentage of each of the heavy metals in the topsoil was 37.7% for Pb, 78.5% for Cr, 43.8% for Zn, and 51.3% for As. Discussion. There are 140 tannery facilities in Mongolia of which 60 processing facilities reside in the Khan-Uul district of Ulaanbaatar. Tanneries use chromium (III) sulfate and other environmentally hazardous chemicals often in tandem with less costly technologies. This increases the amount of wastewater and contaminated silt going onto and into soil. The baseline level of heavy metals content was indicated by 7 XRF readings taken along the side of the Tuul river (relatively untouched soil). The present study shows that the Cr contamination in soil surrounding the tannery area was very high and the main source of the pollutants are wastewater and silt highly contaminated with chromium sulfate originating from the tanneries. Conclusions. The present study found that the tannery area is heavily contaminated and may pose serious threats to human health, the surrounding environment and underground water resources. In order to reduce the health risk of the people working and living in the study area and remove contamination and rehabilitate the area, further studies are needed to determine heavy metal leakage into soil and underground water and to determine the volume of work needed for neutralization and rehabilitation. Competing Interests. The authors declare no competing financial interests

2019 ◽  
pp. 96-106
Author(s):  
Porntiwa Satachon ◽  
Sasithorn Keawmoon ◽  
Patcharida Rengsungnoen ◽  
Sirikul Thummajitsakul ◽  
Kun Silprasit

Heavy metals contamination is a problem in some non-certified organic rice farms that do not have buffer zones. Soil monitoring is therefore required to estimate the potential risk of such organic products. The objectives of the present study are to determine the extent of heavy metal contamination, sources of contamination and assessment of non-carcinogenic health risks to local consumers. Concentrations of toxic heavy metals were determined in soil and rice grain to assess the bioaccumulation factor. The health risk assessment was analyzed following Target Hazard Quotients (THQ) and the Hazard Index (HI). Sources of heavy metal contamination were determined by a correlation study of heavy metal contents, THQ and HI with some physical properties of these non-certificated organic rice fields. The occurrence of heavy metals in agricultural soils and rice grain were ranked in the following order: Pb > Mn > Zn > Cu > Ni and Zn > Mn > Cu > Ni. However, Pb and Zn contamination exceeded maximum permissible levels in rice grain. Non-certified organic rice from these locations might therefore present a health risk for consumers; the high HI values of rice consumption for adult males (5.10-35.09) and 6.12-42.08) indicated a serious adverse health risk for consumers. Individual correlation analysis and principal component analysis indicated that the THQ of Zn was positively correlated with its content in soil and in the grain. Main roads and community activities were found to be the main source of contamination for Zn and Mn, while Pb and Cu contamination mainly derived from paddy field activities such as fertilizer application. This finding will contribute to raising public awareness of the health risks of non-certified organic rice farming.


2020 ◽  
Vol 122 (10) ◽  
pp. 3099-3114
Author(s):  
Pravina Jeevanaraj ◽  
Aliah Ahmad Foat ◽  
Halimah Tholib ◽  
Nurul Izzah Ahmad

PurposeMalaysians are the highest seafood consumers in the region; be it fresh or processed. Environmental pollution has put the safety of seafood at stake, heavy metals among others. This study was done to assess the health risk associated with selected heavy metals ingestion from processed seafood.Design/methodology/approachThe most preferred processed seafood type and the intake rates were determined from a cross-sectional survey among communities in Shah Alam, Selangor (n = 90). The processed seafood were then purchased from local traders (n = 81), underwent homogenization, acid digestion (0.5 g) in Multiwave 3,000 and heavy metal quantitation (Hg, Pb, Cd, As) using ICP-MS. Estimated weekly ingestion (EWI), hazard quotient (HQ), hazard index (HI), lifetime cancer risk (LCR), and target risk (TR) were used to estimate the risk associated with processed seafood consumption.FindingsArsenic was the highest metal detected, acetes topping the list (10.05 ± 0.02 mg/kg). Mercury was detected at significantly higher level in salted fourfinger threadfin (0.88 ± 0.09 mg/kg) while Pb and Cd in toli shad (2.67 ± 0.16 mg/kg; 0.32 ± 0.22 mg/kg). Non-cancer risk was estimated for consumption of dried/salted food types with hazard index (HI) anchoives (5.2) > salted fourfinger threadfin (1.8) > toli shad (1.7). Besides, an unacceptable cancer risk was estimated for all food types for continuous consumption (Total risk (TR) > 10–4), except the dried acetes.Research limitations/implicationsThis study implies that although the concentration of most heavy metals were well below the permitted value, significant amount of risk present for consumption of several species. In addition, for selected heavy metals such as Hg and As, speciation analysis followed by risk assessment would provide a clearer picture.Practical implicationsThere is a need to refer back to the local permissible level of heavy metals in processed seafood and formulate safe consumption guide.Social implicationsThe food types are advised to be consumed with caution especially by the sensitive group.Originality/valueThis study estimated the risk of cancer and other non-cancer disease from processed seafood consumption among Malaysian women.


2021 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Sharhabil Musa Yahaya ◽  
Fatima Abubakar ◽  
Nafiu Abdu

AbstractThe incidence of heavy metal contamination in Zamfara State, northern Nigeria, due to artisanal mining in some villages has resulted in the pollution of a vast area of land and water. This study evaluated the extent of environmental risks caused by heavy metals. It involved five (5) villages (Bagega, Dareta, Sunke, Tunga, and Abare) where mining activities were taking place and Anka town with no record of mining activities served as control. In each of the five villages, three sites (3) were identified as a mining site, processing site, and village making a total of sixteen (16) sites. Bulked soil samples were collected in triplicate and analyzed for iron, lead, cadmium, chromium, zinc, and nickel using flame atomic absorption spectrophotometry. Measured concentrations of the heavy metals in soils were then used to calculate the pollution and ecological risk pose by heavy metals. Their concentrations were in the order Fe > Pb > Cr > Zn > Cd > Ni, with Pb and Cd having a concentration higher than permissible levels for soils and accounted for 98.64% of the total potential ecological risk. Also, all the different pollution indices examined showed that all the sites were polluted with Cd, and all the processing sites were polluted with Pb. This reveals that processing sites pose more risk to heavy metal contamination. Correlation analysis showed a highly significant (p < 0.001) positive correlation between Pb and Zn, Cr and Ni, and a significant (p < 0.01) positive correlation between Fe and Pb, Zn and Cr. The principal component analysis suggested that Pb, Zn, Cr, and Ni likely originated from the same source, i.e., mining activities, and Fe and Cd originated from the abundant parent material in the study area.


Author(s):  
Nur Syahirah Zulkafflee ◽  
Nurul Adillah Mohd Redzuan ◽  
Sara Nematbakhsh ◽  
Jinap Selamat ◽  
Mohd Razi Ismail ◽  
...  

Paddy plants tend to accumulate heavy metals from both natural and anthropogenic sources, and this poses adverse risks to human health. The objective of this study was to investigate heavy metal contamination in paddy plants in Kelantan, Malaysia, and its health risk assessment. The bioaccumulation of heavy metals was studied by means of enrichment (EF) and translocation factors (TF). The health risk assessment was performed based on USEPA guidelines. The EF for heavy metals in the studied areas was in the descending order of Cu > As > Cr > Cd > Pb. Meanwhile, Cr and Pb exhibited higher TF values from stem to grain compared with the others. The combined hazard index (HI) resulting from five heavy metals exceeded the acceptable limit (HI >1). The lifetime cancer risk, in both adult and children, was beyond the acceptable limit (10−4) and mainly resulted from exposure. The total cancer risk (CRt) due to simultaneous exposures to multiple carcinogenic elements also exceeded 10−4. In conclusion, intake of heavy metal through rice ingestion is likely to cause both non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic health risks. Further research is required to investigate the extent of heavy metal contamination in agricultural soils and, moreover, to establish human exposure as a result of rice consumption.


2021 ◽  
Vol 193 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Anahi Aguilera ◽  
Francisco Bautista ◽  
Margarita Gutiérrez-Ruiz ◽  
Agueda E. Ceniceros-Gómez ◽  
Rubén Cejudo ◽  
...  

AbstractIn large industrialized cities, tons of particles containing heavy metals are released into the environment and accumulate on street surfaces. Such particles cause a potential risk to human health due to their composition and size. The heavy metal contamination levels, main emission sources, and human health risks were identified in 482 samples of street dust. Heavy metal concentrations were obtained by microwave-assisted acid digestion and ICP-OES. The results indicated that street dust in Mexico City is contaminated mainly with Pb, Zn, and Cu, according to the contamination factor and the geoaccumulation index. The pollution load index of the street dust was made with the concentrations of Pb, Zn, Cu, Cr, and Ni. The main sources of Pb, Zn, Cu, and Cr are anthropic, probably due to vehicular traffic. The highest levels of Cr and Pb in urban dust represent a health risk for children. Contamination limits were proposed for heavy metals in street dust of Mexico City. These limits might be useful to generate and apply public policies to decrease anthropic emissions of the heavy metals studied, particularly Cr and Pb.


2019 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  

Heavy metal pollution and its resultant accumulation to toxic levels in the Barekese reservoir may threaten human health through the consumption of fish from the Reservoir. The presence and concentrations of arsenic and some other heavy metals (Hg, Pb, Ni, Cr, and Cd) were determined in muscle tissues of widely distributed and highly consumed fish species from the Barekese reservoir using Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometry. A total of 45 fish samples comprising three species (Oreochromis niloticus, Tilapia zilli and Heterotis niloticus) were analyzed for their metal levels. Heavy metals concentrations (mg/kg, w.w) showed varying trends of detection among muscle tissues of selected fish species. However, Hg, Ni, Cr and Cd were detected in muscle tissues of all fish species examined in the study. Indices for non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic risks were estimated for child and adult upon their consumption of fish from the Reservoir. Results of the study indicate a significant level of exposure to Hg, Ni, Cr and Cd through the consumption of fish species from the Reservoir. Health risk assessment also revealed that children are at a relatively higher non-carcinogenic risk through the consumption of metals in Heterotis niloticus (HQ = 2.95 × 10-1). Also, the consumption of all examined fish species from the Reservoir pose no significant cancer risk effects to humans. The present study, therefore, concludes that anthropogenic activities along the Offin River and within the Barekese reservoir’s catchments could lead to deteriorating the quality of fish from the Reservoir hence regular monitoring of such activities is needed.


Author(s):  
Joshua Olu

Introduction: Contaminated water is linked to diseases worldwide. Aims: To investigate the heavy metals concentration in underground water around the Solous dumpsite in Igando Lagos State, Nigeria and its effect on human. Materials and Methods: water samples from 12 different locations within a distance range of 0.07 - 0.72 km was collected. And a structured questionnaire was administered to 120 respondents to find out their perceptions about the dumpsite environment and ill-health effect of their drinking water. The physicochemical parameters was measured and heavy metals concentration of the water samples were determined using Flame Atomic Absorption Spectrometer. Results: The water samples from the 12 sites contains heavy metals concentrations: Lead (Pb) (0.08-1.20mg/L), Cadmium (Cd) (0.03-0.08mg/L), Iron (Fe) (1.4-12.3mg/L), Nickel (Ni) (0.08-0.19mg/L), Zinc (Zn) (0.05-0.13mg/L) and Manganese (Mn) (0.01-0.04mg/L) respectively. It was revealed that age, educational qualification and year of living in the community of the respondents explain a significant amount of the variance in the value of the perception of the respondents on effect of heavy metal contamination. The result shows that over 75% of the respondents was not sure of any prior ailment linked to any heavy metal contamination affecting anyone among them. Conclusion: all water samples collected were contaminated by heavy metals and respondents using this water are ignorant of the danger. Thus, there is a need for proper provision of safe alternative water supply to the dumpsite community for domestic use and awareness on environmental heavy metal toxicity from drinking water to avert global health challenges.


Author(s):  
Agatha Anak Sibuar ◽  
Nur Syahirah Zulkafflee ◽  
Jinap Selamat ◽  
Mohd Razi Ismail ◽  
Soo Yee Lee ◽  
...  

Rice is one of the major crops as well as the staple food in Malaysia. However, historical mining activity has raised a concern regarding heavy metal contamination in paddy plants, especially in Perak, a state with major tin mining during the late nineteenth century. Therefore, the objective of this study is to investigate the heavy metals (As, Cd, Pb, Cu, Cr) contamination in paddy soils and paddy plants in three districts in Perak. The content of heavy metals was determined using ICP-MS, while the absorption and transferability of heavy metals in the paddy plants were investigated through enrichment (EF) and translocation (TF) factors. Principal component analysis (PCA) was employed to recognize the pattern of heavy metal contaminations in different sampling areas. Health risk assessment was performed through calculation of various indices. The quantification results showed that root contained highest concentration of the studied heavy metals, with As exhibiting the highest concentration. The EF results revealed the accumulation of As, Cu, and Cr in the rice grains while PCA showed the different compositional pattern in the different sampling areas. The health risk assessment disclosed both noncarcinogenic and carcinogenic risks in the local adults and children. Overall, findings from this study show that heavy metal contamination poses potential health risks to the residents and control measure is required.


Author(s):  
V. Morozov ◽  
L. Labuntsova ◽  
A. Ponomarev ◽  
V. Tatarinov

The report gives intermediate results of research carried out as the start of the INTAS Project “Strategy development for long term pollution control in regions of extreme environmental risk (ENVRISK)” The work on the project is a logical continuation of the research by project INCO-Copernicus TOXICAL (Contract No ICA2- CT2001-0016) [Ref. to preceding Conference] [14]. The major goal of the work is to elaborate a strategy and methods of pollution assessment and monitoring of Argazinskoye water storage basin, which is a reserve of drinking water supply for he city of Chelyabinsk in order to take steps for mitigating the health risk of the population of the region. The Russian project participants of the United Institute of Physics of the Earth, Russian Academy of Sciences, were presented with the following tasks. ? Grading and summing up the available data on the geological and tectonic structure and heavy metal pollution of the region; ? To substantiate field observation stations network and points of sampling of soil, biomass and surface water for laboratory analysis of heavy metal content; ? Rating stations of monitoring surface water pollution by neutron logging in relation to ecological conditions of the region; ? To obtain data on areal distribution of heavy metals pollution of soils, underground water and biomass; ? To elaborate a model of major pollutants spreading with surface runoff and hydrology system of the region on the basis of GIS technologies; ? To work out recommendations for local authorities to minimize health risk of the population. Currently a map of sampling has been made, sampling techniques have been elaborated in compliance with effective norms (GOST), samples processing and partial chemical analysis have been carried out. Some results of the research are given below.


Author(s):  
Sangeetha Annam ◽  
Anshu Singla

Abstract: Soil is a major and important natural resource, which not only supports human life but also furnish commodities for ecological and economic growth. Ecological risk has posed a serious threat to the ecosystem by the degradation of soil. The high-stress level of heavy metals like chromium, copper, cadmium, etc. produce ecological risks which include: decrease in the fertility of the soil; reduction in crop yield & degradation of metabolism of living beings, and hence ecological health. The ecological risk associated, demands the assessment of heavy metal stress levels in soils. As the rate of stress level of heavy metals is exponentially increasing in recent times, it is apparent to assess or predict heavy metal contamination in soil. The assessment will help the concerned authorities to take corrective as well as preventive measures to enhance the ecological and hence economic growth. This study reviews the efficient assessment models to predict soil heavy metal contamination.


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