Abstract
Contamination of shooting ranges by heavy metals in particular Pb represents a widespread environmental issue attracting concern worldwide. Contaminant accumulation in shooting range soils can pose potential ecological risks and health risks for shooters and workers. Based on the published data on metal contamination at five shooting ranges in China, potential ecological and human health risks of several metals, and in particular, Pb were assessed for the five surveyed shooting ranges. Data show the mean concentrations of Pb, Cu, Hg, Sb, Ni and Cr in various ranges were all higher than the local soil background values, implying their accumulation was induced by shooting activities. The degree of contamination varied with sites and metals, very high Pb contamination at Range 1, Range 2 and Range 5-1, while moderate Pb contamination at Range 3 and Range 5-2. Comparatively, As, Zn and Co showed no contamination. Among the surveyed metals, Pb, Cu, Hg and Sb in shooting range soils displayed relatively high potential ecological risks. The overall degree of potential ecological risk was very high at Range 1 and Range 2, considerable at Range 4 and Range 5-1, and low at Range 3 and Range 5-2. The mean HI (hazard index) of Pb at Range 2 and the maximum HI values at Range 1 and Range 4 were higher than 1, suggesting a possibility of non-carcinogenic risks of Pb contamination at these sites. However, Pb in other range soils and other metals, across the five ranges, all exhibited no non-carcinogenic risks. The cancer risks of the four carcinogenic contaminants (As, Co, Cr, and Ni) were acceptable or negligible at all ranges. In conclusion, contamination of Pb and other metals such as Cu, Hg and Sb can cause various potential ecological risks at all the surveyed ranges, but only Pb at three ranges shows possible health risks. Contamination of Pb in the surveyed shooting ranges should be managed to reduce its possible environmental and health risks.
Highlights
Toxic metals without known biological functions (e.g., Pb, Cd, and As) and even some essential metals for human beings (e.g., Cu, Zn, and Cr) can cause health risks when present in excess levels
Only Range 3 was tank shooting range, while others were all involved in small arms, such as pistols, rifles, and submachine guns
High Pb concentrations were detected in soils of small arms shooting ranges (Range 1, Range 2, Range 4, and Range 5-1), with the highest value of 7674 mg/kg at Range 2
Summary
Toxic metals without known biological functions (e.g., Pb, Cd, and As) and even some essential metals for human beings (e.g., Cu, Zn, and Cr) can cause health risks when present in excess levels. It is well known that excessive intake of Pb can cause damages in human biological systems such as nervous system, immune system and reproductive system, and especially children’s brain development [1]. Some toxic metals, such as Pb, As, Cd and Cr have been classified as carcinogenic elements by the International Agency for Research on Cancer [2]. It is estimated that 10 to 60,000 tons of Toxics 2020, 8, 32; doi:10.3390/toxics8020032 www.mdpi.com/journal/toxics
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