Levels and health risk assessment of pesticides and metals in Lycium barbarum L. from different sources in Ningxia, China

The berries of Lycium barbarum L. (Goji) are widely used as a Chinese traditional herbal medicine and functional food because of their reported beneficial pharmacological effects. However, there are reports of Goji berries being contaminated by chemical residues that could pose a hazard to humans. In this study, samples of L. barbarum L. berries were collected from plantations in a genuine production area and supermarkets in Ningxia, China. The major hazardous chemicals, including pesticides (dichlorvos, omethoate, cypermethrin, fenvalerate, malathion, and deltamethrin) and metals (lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), copper (Cu), nickel (Ni), zinc (Zn), and arsenic (As)), were quantified by gas chromatography and inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectrometry. In addition, associated daily exposures and health risks were determined using deterministic and probabilistic assessments. The levels of five pesticides from the plantation samples were considerably lower than the maximum residue limits; only dichlorvos was detected in the supermarket samples, and deltamethrin was not detected in any samples. Cu, Zn, As, Pb, Ni and Cd were detected in samples from both sources. The hazard quotient values of individual hazardous chemicals and the hazard index of combined hazardous chemicals were considerably less than 1, indicating the absence of a non-carcinogenic effect of hazardous chemical exposures through Goji berry consumption. The R value of As was much less than 10–6, which shows that consumption of the Goji berries had no obvious carcinogenic risks. The potentially harmful effects of the L. barbarum L. are more likely from berries obtained from plantations than those from supermarkets, and metal exposure is more dangerous than pesticide exposure. However, on the basis of our analysis, no population would be exposed hazardous chemicals exceeding existing standards, and the factors most affecting the health risk were exposure frequency and As content.

Assessment of Risk and Social Impact on Groundwater Pollution by Nitrates. Implementation in the Gallocanta Groundwater Body (NE Spain)

Groundwater is an essential resource for humans concerning freshwater supply; therefore, preserving and protecting its quality is necessary. Risk assessment, based on hazard, intrinsic vulnerability information and mapping, may be considered as a key aspect of sustainable groundwater management. An approach has been made by combining the Nitrogen Input Hazard Index and the hydrogeological parameters considered in a modified DRASTIC method. A three-level classification has been used to determine the degree of risk, and the thresholds have been established following measurable criteria related to the potential nitrate concentration in groundwater. The second part of the study focused on estimating the socioeconomic impact of groundwater pollution by relating the degree of risk and social vulnerability to groundwater pollution. The method has been tested in the Gallocanta Groundwater Body (Spain). As a result, a risk map and an impact map are provided. The risk map shows that 67% of the study area can be classified as moderate and high-risk areas, corresponding to high hazard sources located in moderate and high vulnerability zones, whereas the impact of groundwater pollution is classified as moderate in the whole groundwater body. The proposed analysis allows comparison between aquifers in different areas and the results required by water authorities to implement control and mitigation measures.

Transfer of Metal(loid)s from Soil to Leaves and Trunk Xylem Sap of Medicinal Plants and Possible Health Risk Assessment

The objective of the present study was to investigate metal(loid)s in soils, in the trunk xylem sap and in the leaves of the Dipteryx alata plant located near the highway with high vehicle traffic in agricultural regions and near landfills, and to assess the transfer of metal(loid)s from soil to plant and possible health risk assessment. Trunk xylem sap, leaves and soil samples were collected at three sites near the highway. The analysis of trace elements was carried out using inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy (ICP OES). In the three soil sampling sites far from the highway edge, 15 elements were quantified. The concentrations of elements in the soil presented in greater proportions in the distance of 5 m in relation to 20 and 35 m. The metal(loid)s content in the study soil was higher than in other countries. The concentrations of Al, Cu, Fe, Mg, Mn, P, Se and Zn in the xylem sap were much higher than the leaves. The values of transfer factor of P, Mg and Mn from soil to the xylem sap and transfer factor of P from soil to leaf were greater than 1, indicating that the specie have a significant phytoremediation and phytoextraction potential. This plant has a tendency to accumulate As, Cd and Cr in its leaf tissues. The chronic hazard index (HI) values recorded in this study were above 1 for adults and adolescents. It is concluded that the soil, the trunk xylem sap and leaves of this plant are contaminated by heavy metals. Ingestion of the trunk xylem sap of this plant can cause toxicity in humans if ingested in large quantities and in the long term; therefore, its consumption should be avoided.

Sources of airborne particulate matter-bound metals and spatial-seasonal variability of health risk potentials in four large cities, South Korea

Fifteen airborne particulate matter-bound metals were analyzed at 14 sites in four large cities (Seoul, Incheon, Busan, Daegu) in South Korea, between August 2013 and June 2017. Among the seven sources resolved by positive matrix factorization, soil dust and marine aerosol accounted for the largest and second largest portions in the three cities; however, in Seoul, soil dust and traffic occupied the largest and the second largest, respectively. Non-carcinogenic risk assessed by inhalation of eight metals (Cd, Co, Ni, Pb, As, Al, Mn, and V) was greater than the hazard index (HI) of 1 at four sites located at or near the industrial complexes. Cumulative incremental lifetime cancer risk (ILCR) due to exposure to five metals (Cd, Co, Ni, Pb, and As) exceeded the 10−6 cancer benchmark at 14 sites and 10−5 at six sites, which includes four sites with HI greater than 1. The largest contributor to ILCR was coal combustion in Seoul, Incheon, and Daegu, and industry sources in Busan. Moreover, industry sources were the largest contributors to non-carcinogenic risk in Seoul, Busan, and Daegu, and soil dust was in Incheon. Incheon had the highest HI in spring because of the higher contribution of soil dust sources than in other seasons. The higher ILCR in Incheon in spring and winter and higher ILCR and HI in Daegu in autumn were mainly due to the influence of industry or coal combustion sources. Statistically significant differences in the ILCR and HI values among the sampling sites in Busan and Daegu resulted from the higher contribution of industry sources at a certain site in the respective city.

Estimation of Erosion Using the Universal Soil Loss Equation (USLE) Method in the Ranu Pani Watershed in the Taman Nasional Bromo Tengger Semeru

The land problem that commonly occurs in Ranu Pani Watershed is erosion. Ranu Pani Watershed is an area located in the mountains with very high soil erosion. Therefore, it is necessary to conduct good management in the upstream and downstream areas. The first step before carrying out the management is to analyze the occurrence of erosion in the Ranu Pani Watershed. The purpose of this research was to predict the potential erosion and the distribution of spatial data.. The results of the research showed that the erosivity value in the Ranu Pani Watershed was 961.44 and heavy to very heavy class (0.50-0.77) of erodibility, soil texture was dominated by silt, fine granular soil structure, and moderate dominant permeability. 56.80% of the area (158.27 ha) has a slop class III (15-30%) with the land cover are natural forest with lots of litter, grasslands, shrubs, and fields of onions and potatoes. Land management is managed cultivation follows the contour line but without conservation. The result of the calculation showed that almost all areas have potential erosion value exceed the permissible erosion determination, with the potential erosion value are 1.92-4246.28 tha-1 yr-1, the range of permissible erosion value are 0.029- 1.2 tha-1 yr-1, and the erosion hazard index value is 1.57-143442.49. The results of the spatial analysis showed that 64.39% of the area (179.41 ha) has a very heavy erosion hazard class and 69.50% of the area (193.66 ha) has a very high erosion hazard index.

Health risks of adults in Hong Kong related to inhalation of particle-bound heavy metal(loid)s

Heterogeneity between ambient and personal exposure to heavy metals has been documented. However, few studies have investigated potential health risks posed by inhalational exposure to airborne heavy metal(loid)s at the individual level. A total of 404 personal fine particles (PM2.5) samples were collected from 61 adult residents (aged 18–63 years) in Hong Kong during 2014–2015. Heavy metal(loid)s were analyzed using energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence. Among the analyzed heavy metal(loid)s, zinc (Zn) was the most abundant component in personal PM2.5, followed by lead (Pb), copper (Cu), and vanadium (V); cobalt (Co) and cadmium (Cd) were not detectable. Health risks of personal exposure to heavy metal(loid)s via inhalation were assessed for adults, including non-cancer risks that were characterized by hazard quotient (HQ) and hazard index (HI). The results indicated that non-cancer risks of heavy metal(loid)s were attributable to Cu, with a 95th HQ value > 1. Arsenic (As) and hexavalent chromium [Cr (VI)] were also significant contributors to inhalation cancer risks (> 1 × 10−6) for the adult participants. Finally, we employed a Monte Carlo simulation to evaluate the uncertainty associated with health risk assessment. The mean and median upper-bound lifetime cancer risk associated with inhalation exposure to carcinogenic heavy metal(loid)s exceeded the acceptable level (1 × 10−6) for adults. Traffic emission (including non-tailpipe exhaust), shipping emission, and regional pollution were significant sources of heavy metals. These findings suggest that emission controls targeting local vehicles and vessels should be given priority in Hong Kong.

Aflatoxin in feedstuffs and raw milk in Republic of North Macedonia, occurrence and assessment

The main objective of this research is to estimate the situation of occurance of aflatoxins in feedstuffs and aflatoxin M1 raw cow`s milk in Republic of North Macedonia. Detected average concentrations of total aflatoxins in the examined period 2014-2017 were below legal prescribed level. Within the official monitoring programme in the country, 1718 samples of raw cow's milk have been analyzed during 2017 and 2018. Comparison of the data showed that the number of examined samples with values for aflatoxin M1 above the allowed limits, according to the regulation is in 2018 (10 samples) and 2017 (5 samples). Additionally, the calculation of exposure assessment of the human population in North Macedonia demonstrated that the exposure to AFM1 of the adult population in N. Macedonia for 2017 is 0.0563 ng/kg bw/daily, and for 2018 is 0.0824 ng/kg bw/daily. The calculated hazard index (HI) In both years, was lower than one, which means that there are no significant health risks for the consumers. It is important to have continuously low levels of aflatoxins in animal feed and nutrition, especially that the climate changes create more favorable conditions for the development of moulds of Aspergillus.

Heavy metals in private car dusts collected from Universiti Malaysia Pahang, Gambang Campus: Contamination and human health risks

A pilot study was conducted to investigate the concentrations of seven heavy metals (Zn, Cu, Cr, Cd, Fe, Ni and Pb) in private car dusts collected from Universiti Malaysia Pahang (UMP), Gambang campus. Ten private cars were selected among UMP staffs and students, and the dust samples were obtained by using a conventional vacuum cleaner with a clean nylon sampling sock pre-inserted into the suction nozzle. All samples were acid-digested with aqua regia solution and analysed for metal concentration using Atomic Absorption Spectrometry (AAS). The highest mean concentrations were recorded for Fe (650± 480 mg/kg), followed by Zn (160 ± 110 mg/kg), Cu (76.2 ± 18.5 mg/kg), Pb (39.2 ± 99.1 mg/kg), Ni (6.39 ± 8.30 mg/kg), Cr (3.42 ± 5.90 mg/kg) and Cd (0.55 ± 1.40 mg/kg). Hazard quotient (HQ) and hazard index (HI) values lower than 1 indicated no potential non-carcinogenic risks to the adult drivers.