Mercury soil contents and associated ecological and health risks in kindergartens and functional areas of the city of Vanadzor (Armenia)

Abstract

Mercury is a widespread environmental pollutant becoming a crucial health concern as a result of natural and anthropogenic releases. Understanding Hg distribution pattern between different functional urban areas is needed for urban pollution control and health impact assessment. Therefore, in this paper urban soil Hg spatial distribution, pollution level evaluation, and mercury-induced health risks were studied, for different urban functional areas (355 samples) and kindergartens (18 samples) of Vanadzor. Geospatial mapping and the geostatistical analysis suggest that Hg concentration in the entire area of Vanadzor and its kindergartens has a natural origin, besides a certain anthropogenic impact on some urban sites. According to geoaccumulation index (Igeo), uncontaminated or moderately contaminated levels were detected only in 2 samples from industrial area and 5 samples from residential area, the remaining samples were classified as uncontaminated. In all kindergartens and the 22.15 sq.km of the city (270 samples) are characterized by low level potential ecological risk, whereas 3.85 sq.km (85 samples) correspond to moderate and for 1 sampling site high level of potential ecological risk. A non-carcinogenic health risk assessed for children and adults indicates health hazards neither in Vanadzor entire areas nor in kindergartens. The hazard index (HI) in each urban functional area is less than allowable level (HI <1) for children and adults. Obtained results are indicative and offer the ability for better management of urban soil and urban planning in terms of Hg pollution regulation in different functional areas.

Mercury in air and soil on an urban-rural transect in East Africa

“…This is low compared to the Hg concentrations found in urban soils elsewhere in the world (Table 2). They were similar to those reported for urban soil in Kumasi, Ghana, and Vanadzor, Armenia, [65][66][67] and lower than those from Beijing and Wuhu, China; Brno, Czech Republic; Athens, Greece, and Arak, Iran. [68][69][70][71][72][73][74] Intense solar radiation and high temperature all year round in Dar es Salaam likely contribute to the low levels of Hg in soil, as this favours photoreduction of Hg(II) to GEM and volatilization of GEM, respectively.…”