Ecological and Human Health Risk Assessment of Heavy Metal Pollution in the Soil of the Ger District in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia

Abstract

The aim of the present study was to evaluate human health and potential ecological risk assessment in the ger district of Ulaanbaatar city, Mongolia. To perform these risk assessments, soil samples were collected based on reference studies that investigated heavy element distribution in soil samples near the ger area in Ulaanbaatar city. In total, 42 soil samples were collected and 26 heavy metals were identified by inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES) and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) methods. The measurement results were compared with the reference data in order to validate the soil contamination level. Although there was a large difference between the measurement results of the present and reference data, the general tendency was similar. Soil contamination was assessed by pollution indexes such as geoaccumulation index and enrichment factor. Mo and As were the most enriched elements compared with the other elements. The carcinogenic and noncarcinogenic risks to children exceeded the permissible limits, and for adults, only 12 out of 42 sampling points exceeded the permissible limit of noncarcinogenic effects. According to the results of the ecological risk assessment, Zn and Pb showed from moderate to considerable contamination indexes and high toxicity values for ecological risk of a single element. The Cr and As ranged as very high ecological risk than that of the other measured heavy metals.

Evaluation of Daily Behaviors Related to Health Risks of the Ger Residents in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia

“…The present study employed a social survey approved by the Tokyo Institute of Technology to collect information and assess the heavy metal exposure of Ger area residents in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. This study recorded exposure pathways by using a questionnaire survey to collect information on the daily activities of Ger residents who live near the areas contaminated by heavy metals based on soil samples gathered in the our previous study, as mentioned in the introduction [15].…”

“…Furthermore, such heavy metals can be easily transported through the air, and exposed humans can easily be affected through ingestion, inhalation, and dermal contact [11,12]. Consequently, the concentrations of heavy metals in soil in the Ger areas have been measured by several researchers [13,14] including our previous work [15].…”

“…In our previous work, potential human health studies were performed based on the concentration of heavy metals in the samples collected from 42 sites in the Ger area of Ulaanbaatar city, Mongolia. In total, 28 heavy metals were identified using the ICP-OES and ICP-MS methods [15]. The carcinogenic risk was estimated to exceed the permissible limit for both adults and children at all of the sample sites.…”

“…The present study focuses on exposure pathways based on the daily activities of Ger residents, using a questionnaire survey administered in face-to-face interviews with Ger residents who live near areas where soil samples were collected in our previous study [15]. A questionnaire survey was used because it is simple and facilitates the identification of exposure pathways and their potential effects.…”

Application of Geostatistical Analysis and Random Forest for Source Analysis and Human Health Risk Assessment of Potentially Toxic Elements (PTEs) in Arable Land Soil

“…The US Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) subsequently produced a more detailed explanation of the health risk assessment. The health risk assessment of soil pollution with PTEs refers to the assessment of both non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic risks through three routes of exposure, including food intake, skin-surface contact, and breathing inhalation [ 14 ]. This is acknowledged as a significant means for identifying health risks in human conducts and providing hazard proof for final decision people [ 15 ].…”