Heavy Metal Characterization and Health Risk Assessment in Agricultural Soils from an Agate Dyeing Village

Abstract

The pollution of heavy metals in agricultural soil poses a dangerous health risk to nearby residents. This study presents a method to assess the health risks of heavy metal pollution using Monte Carlo simulations. Soil samples from an agate dyeing village were collected and their heavy metal contents were analyzed. The results indicate the contamination of heavy metals in the study area soil, the single-factor index values of Pb, Cu, Cr, and Ni were found to indicate mild pollution, and the Nemerow complex index values of all investigated metals were ranked at level IV, indicating moderate pollution. The health assessment indicates an unacceptable total carcinogenic risk for adults and children and non-carcinogenic hazard quotient for adults. Oral ingestion was found to be the main exposure pathway, and the most sensitive factors were the adherence factor, soil ingestion rate, and body weight.