Assessment of Health Impact of Heavy Metals Contained in Wild Berries of Shrubs for the Population of the Murmansk Region

Abstract

Background: Studies of wild berries of local shrubs carried out in the Murmansk Region showed an increased accumulation of heavy metals in them, especially near the Severonickel plant. High concentrations of industrial pollutants were measured in blueberries, lingonberries and crowberries. Objective: To assess health effects of population exposure to nickel and copper in wild berries of small shrubs in the Murmansk Region. Materials and methods: We tested metal contents in blueberries, lingonberries and crowberries gathered in August–September of 2016–2018 at ten stationary monitoring plots located along the industrial pollution gradient in the meridional (south) direction on the leeward side of the Severonickel plant. Health risk assessment was conducted in accordance with Guidelines R 2.1.10.1920-04, Health Risk Assessment from Environmental Chemicals. Results: Values of carcinogenic risk from oral exposure to nickel contained in the berries were unacceptably high (> 1.0E-03) at all monitoring plots. Estimates of chronic non-carcinogenic risk from nickel exposure were also high while those from copper exposure were unacceptable only for crowberry. Hazard index values for the unidirectional effect of copper and nickel on the digestive tract and liver were unacceptably high (> 1.0) at most monitoring plots for all the berries studied. Discussion: High risk values for the local population necessitate the development of recommendations for exposure reduction, such as limiting the annual consumption of berries to 6 kg, avoiding berry picking at a distance of up to 15 km from the Seve- ronickel plant, etc. Conclusions: The predicted levels of carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic risks associated with exposure to nickel and copper were estimated as unacceptably high, thus indicating a pronounced industrial impact on boreal ecosystems in the zone of influence of the enterprise, extending more than 15 km from its industrial site. It is critical to develop appropriate recommendations for the population consuming wild-growing blueberries, cowberries and crowberries picked in this industrially contaminated area.