Health risk assessment of heavy metal pollution and its sources in agricultural soils near Hongfeng Lake in the mining area of Guizhou Province, China

Abstract

BackgroundAccelerated modern industrial processes, extensive use of pesticides and fertilizers and remaining issues of wastewater irrigation have led to an increasingly severe composite pollution of heavy metals in arable land. Soil contamination can cause significant damage to ecological environments and human health. Mineral resource mining can result in varying degrees of heavy metal pollution in surrounding water systems and soil. As a plateau lake, Hongfeng Lake has a fragile watershed ecosystem. Coupled with the rapid development of the current socio-economy and the ongoing activities of mining, urbanization and agricultural development, the water and soil environment of the lake and arable land are facing serious heavy metal pollution. Therefore, the situation warrants attention.MethodsThis study focused on characterizing soil types and conducted sampling and laboratory testing on the farmland soil in Hongfeng Lake. The integrated Nemero comprehensive pollution assessment and potential ecological pollution assessment methods were used to evaluate the heavy metal pollution status. The APCS-MLR model was employed to explore the sources of heavy metal pollution. In addition, the human health risk model was used to analyze the association between heavy metal content in cultivated land and human health risks.ResultsThe single-factor pollution of each element was ranked in descending order: Hg > As > Pb > Cr > Cd, with Hg being the main pollutant factor. The entire area was subjected to mild pollution according to the pollution index. Pollution source analysis indicated two main pollution sources. Hg, As, Pb and Cr pollution mainly resulted from Source 1 (industrial and natural activities), accounting for 71.99%, 51.57%, 67.39% and 68.36%, respectively. Cd pollution was mainly attributed to Source 2 (agricultural pollution source), contributing 84.12%. The health risk assessment model shows that heavy metals posed acceptable carcinogenic risks to humans rather than non-carcinogenic risks. As was the main non-carcinogenic risk factor, while Cr was the main carcinogenic risk factor, with higher risks in children than adults.ConclusionOur study identified the heavy metal pollution in farmland soil in Hongfeng Lake, evaluated and analyzed the pollution sources and identified the heavy metal elements in cultivated lands that have the greatest impact on human health risks. The aim of this study is to provide a scientific basis for soil heavy metal pollution control.

Risk Assessment and Attribution Analysis of Potentially Toxic Elements in Soil of Dongdagou, Baiyin, Gansu Province, China

“…Extensive research conducted by both domestic and international scholars has evaluated and traced the pollution of potentially toxic elements in farmland soil. Their findings indicate varying degrees of such pollution in certain countries and regions [5,6]. In Iran, multiple provinces have encountered As pollution, which poses significant ecological hazards and a potential carcinogenic risk to human health [7].…”

“…The quotient method is the biological exposure divided by the degree of effect. Compared with the potential ecological risk hazard index method, it does not have the ability to predict future risks [6]. The comprehensive evaluation model cannot clearly reflect the risk formation mechanism and influencing factors, while the potential ecological risk index method uses quantitative methods to divide the potential harm level of potentially toxic elements.…”

Studying the Effectiveness of Phytoremediation in the Purification of Soils Contaminated with Heavy Metals

“…Or indirectly, the presence of heavy metals by destroying the cell structure causes oxidative stress and increases the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) (Georgio et al, 2015;Liu et al, 2016;Skrypnik, et al, 2021;Pati et al, 2022). In addition to natural processes, heavy metals can cause soil pollution through human resources such as mining activities, waste, and garbage burial, excessive use of chemical fertilizers, fossil fuels, and the like (Cui et al, 2023;Panqing et al, 2023). According to the studies, the excessive growth of cities in recent decades on the one hand, and the lack of sewage collection systems on the other hand have caused agricultural lands to become receivers of municipal sewage and industrial sewage of some industries.…”