Health risk associated with soil and plant contamination in industrial areas

Abstract

Aims: The aim of the study was to assess human health risk stemming from i) contact with contaminated soil and ii) consumption of plants growing in contaminated soils in allotment gardens and farmlands located in regions heavily affected by the Zn-Pb and steel industries and in hard coal mining areas. Methods: Based on the pseudo-total concentration of Potentially Toxic Elements (PTEs) measured in soil and plant samples and using the US EPA methodology, we assessed estimated daily intake (EDI), as well as non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic health risk in two exposure scenarios (recreational and residential), stemming from the contact with soil with varying degrees of PTE contamination, i.e.: Cr(3+,6+), Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb and Zn. In the recreational scenario, we analyzed three exposure pathways (accidental soil ingestion, dermal contact with contaminated soil and inhalation of contaminated soil particles) for a child (0–6 years), an economically active adult (20–40 years), a senior (40–60 years) and a retiree (60–70 years). In the residential scenario, we additionally analyzed an exposure pathway associated with the intake of contaminated lettuce leaves grown in the soils studied for a child and an adult. With respect to non-carcinogenic health risk, we calculated hazard quotient (HQ) values for individual contaminants under each exposure pathway and target hazard quotient (THQ) values for different exposure pathways. Results and conclusions: We found that the proportion of different exposure pathways in the total health risk decreased in the following order: intake of contaminated vegetables > accidental soil ingestion > dermal contact > inhalation of contaminated soil particles. Children are more exposed to toxic effects of potentially toxic elements than seniors and economically active adults.