Characterization and assessment of contaminated soil and groundwater at an organic chemical plant site in Chongqing, Southwest China

Abstract

Contamination from organic chemical plants can cause serious pollution of soil and groundwater ecosystems. To characterize soil contamination and to evaluate the health risk posed by groundwater at a typical organic chemical plant site in Chongqing, China, 91 soil samples and seven groundwater samples were collected. The concentrations of different contaminants and their three-dimensional distribution were determined based on the 3D-krige method. Groundwater chemistry risk index (Chem RI) and cancer risk were calculated based on TRIAD and RBCA models. The chemistry risk indices of groundwater points SW5, SW18, SW22, SW39, SW52, SW80, and SW82 were 0.4209, 0.9972, 0.9324, 0.9990, 0.9991, 1.0000, and 1.0000, respectively, indicating that the groundwater has poor environmental status. By contrast, the reference Yangtse River water sample showed no pollution with a Chem RI of 0.1301. Benzene and 1,2-dichloroethane were the main contaminants in the groundwater and were responsible for the elevated cancer risk. The cumulative health risk of groundwater points (except SW5 and SW18) were all higher than the acceptable baselines of 10(-6), which indicates that the groundwater poses high cancer risk. Action is urgently required to control and remediate the risk for human health and groundwater ecosystems.

Risk Control Values and Remediation Goals for Benzo[a]pyrene in Contaminated Sites: Sectoral Characteristics, Temporal Trends, and Empirical Implications

“…Industrial smoke and solid waste generated by processes in chemical and chemical product manufacturing contain volatile and semivolatile organic chemicals. Waste also includes various contaminants, including BaP, which can cause soil contamination . Moreover, average RCVs of industries with a low potential for releasing contaminants to the environment were all >0.5 mg/kg (Figure ), such as agriculture and food processing, the repair of metal products, and the construction of machinery and equipment for ecological conservation.…”

“…Waste also includes various contaminants, including BaP, which can cause soil contamination. 75 Moreover, average RCVs of industries with a low potential for releasing contaminants to the environment were all >0.5 mg/ kg (Figure 3), such as agriculture and food processing, the repair of metal products, and the construction of machinery and equipment for ecological conservation. Consequently, soil contamination by BaP originating from chemical plants requires priority for intervention.…”

Multifaceted Insight into Sensitivity Analysis and Environmental Impact on Human Health of Soil Contamination Risk Assessment

“…Soil contamination is a complex and challenging issue that involves many types of hazardous metals, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and semivolatile organic compounds (SVOCs) at contaminated sites. − Human health risk assessment is a significant method for estimating the probability of adverse health effects on humans. − The processes consist of hazard identification, dose–response assessment, exposure assessment, and risk characterization. , Sensitivity analysis is a process that evaluates the effects of changes in key parameters on human health risks and environmental impact results. , It entails identifying key parameters and evaluating the impacts of changes in these parameters on the uncertainty of calculated ratios. This, in turn, facilitates the determination of the appropriate risk management strategies.…”

“…6−8 The processes consist of hazard identification, dose−response assessment, exposure assessment, and risk characterization. 9,10 Sensitivity analysis is a process that evaluates the effects of changes in key parameters on human health risks and environmental impact results. 11,12 It entails identifying key parameters and evaluating the impacts of changes in these parameters on the uncertainty of calculated ratios.…”

Survey and Risk Assessment of Contaminants in Soil from a Nitrogenous Fertilizer Plant Located in North China

“…Investigation and assessment of contaminants left in these sites is necessary for their safe redevelopment. A large number of studies have focused on the investigation and assessment of contaminants on petroleum [5], coking [6], and chemical-contaminated sites [7]. However, there has been little concern about the fertilizer-contaminated sites, but in fact, this kind of site could have serious environmental impacts and human health risks.…”