Primary health risk analysis of metals in surface water of Taihu Lake, China

Abstract

The status and health risks of eight metals, Pb, Cd, Cr, Cu, Zn, Fe, Ni and Mn, in surface water from Taihu Lake (Jiangsu Province, China) were evaluated. The results showed that the maximum hazard quotients (HQ) value through ingestion pathway and dermal adsorption pathway was 2.74E-01 (Ni) and 2.57E-02 (Cd), respectively. However, the individual hazard quotient and total hazard index of eight metals through ingestion and dermal adsorption pathway was all lower than 1, indicating that the pollution situation in the surface water of Taihu Lake concerning these metals has no or low adverse health effects. © 2011 Springer Science+Business Media, LLC.