Health hazards and risk assessment of the use of fossil fuel electricity generators in suburb of Port Harcourt, Nigeria

IntroductionTrace metals in fish play different important roles, both for the fish itself and humans who consume them. However, some of these metals are toxic at low concentrations, and are considered as health hazards. In this study, the concentration of six trace metals (Pb, Cd, Ni, Cu, Mn and Zn) were determined in imported frozen fish species available in Bayelsa State, Nigeria. The effect of domestic heat processing techniques (cooking, frying and smoking) on the trace metals concentration, and the potential risk due to consumption of these metals in fish were also evaluated. MethodsSix different species of imported frozen fish species were purchased from wholesale and retail outlets, and were prepared as raw, cooked, fried and smoked samples. A mixture of acids was used for digestion of fish samples, while Flame atomic absorption spectrometer was used for quantification of metals. The hazard index was employed for evaluating the non-carcinogenic risk of metals in fish. ResultsThe average trace metals concentration in the raw fish samples followed the order: Zn > Cu > Cd > Ni > Mn. Pb was undetected in all fish samples. The concentration of the detected trace metals ranged as follows - Cd: 3.45–9.40 mg/kg, Ni: <0.001–13.13 mg/kg, Cu: 6.10–9.95 mg/kg, Mn: <0.001–1.05 mg/kg, and Zn: 14.50–43.65 mg/kg. The Cd concentration in all raw fish species greatly exceeded its permissible limits. The effect of domestic heat processing techniques on trace metals concentration in fish did not follow any regular pattern, and only Cd concentrations exceeded its permissible limit in all heat processed fish samples. The hazard quotient (HQ) values showed that only Cd had HQ values >1 for both child and adult exposure scenarios. ConclusionThe results suggest trace metal contamination of fish samples by Cd, with significant potential non-carcinogenic risk. Since Cd is toxic, continuous screening of imported fish products is necessary, in order to safeguard public health.

Health risk assessment of oral and dermal exposure to metal-contaminated groundwater: A case study from Hatay, Türkiye.

Objective(s): Elemental impurity exposure that may occur in the use of supplements has the potential to pose a risk to human health. Vitamin C supplements are among the most commonly used supplements on a daily basis and in the long-term due to the pharmacological properties of vitamin C. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the non-carcinogenic health risk of elemental impurities that may cause contamination in orally administered vitamin C supplements.Materials and Methods:Ten elemental impurities (Cd, Pb, As, Hg, Co, V, Ni, Cr, Sb, and Sn) in 12 supplements were analyzed using ICP-MS. The estimated daily intake (EDI), hazard quotient (HQ), and hazard index (HI) values of elemental impurities were calculated for non-carcinogenic risk assessment. Cancer risk (CR) was additionally calculated for elemental impurities with carcinogenic properties detected in the samples.Results:Low levels of Cr and Hg were detected in some samples. While the HQ values of sample 1, sample 2, sample 8, and sample 9 for Hg were calculated as 0.054, 0.096, 0.064, and 0.086, respectively, the HQ values of sample 5, sample 10, and sample 11 for Cr were calculated as 0.011, 0.017, and 0.014, respectively. Since only Hg or only Cr was detected in samples with elemental impurity, the HI values in the samples are the same as the HQ values. Since the HQ and HI values calculated from the samples are not≥1, there is no elemental impurity at a level that will hazard human health through supplement use. Other carcinogenic elements were not detected in the samples except Cr. In sample 5, sample 10, and sample 11, the CR values for Cr were 1.767.10-5, 2.571.10-5, and 2.089.10-5, respectively. In probability simulation, while HQ and CR values of Cr did not exceed the allowable value, the HQ level for Hg in the 95% slice was higher than the allowable value.Conclusion:There is no risk to human health and there is no critical difference between the supplements considering the elemental pollutant content among the vitamin C supplements of different trademarks. However, in order to keep the Hg level, which has a potential risk capacity, at low limits, it is recommended that the necessary risk-reducing measures be taken by the authorities and further studies be carried out.

Rivers,as the kind of freshwater resources throughout the world, play a key role in the lives of living things. Heavy metal contamination of river water is primarily attributed to human activities, and there is anincreasing need to conduct risk assessments to characterise the nature and magnitude ofrisks to humans and ecological receptors from these contaminants.The PG990 nuclear absorption spectrophotometer measured concentrations of heavy metals. Trace metals (Cd, Pb, Ni, Zn) in Babolrood river from the Babol region of North Iran were analysed to assess pollution using the Hazard Quotients (HQ), Hazard Index (HI) and the Incremental Lifetime Cancer Risk (ILCR).The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) model was applied to calculate human health risk (HHR). Heavy metal concentration varied considerably Cd (0.004 to 89.287 µg/L), Ni (0.89–49.78 µg/L), Pb (3.4–181.75 µg/L) and Ni (0.0–243.3 µg/L). The oral Hazard quotients (HQ) values for Pb were ranged from 1.04–7.83 µg/L, therefore indicated in all sampled stations HQ values above 1 for children group. In contrast, the oral and dermal HQ values for both groups were less than 1 for Zn and Ni in all sampling stations. The Hazard Index (HI) values demonstrate that total HI values were above 1 for children group in water samples of all stations. Generally, total HI values for children were much higher than that of adults among Babolrood River. The Excess Lifetime Cancer Risk (ELCR) values for Cd and Pb in all sample stations for children were higher than the EPA risk assessment guideline limit (10−6-10−4).

This study investigates the presence of trace elements in soils from tea plantations in Gilan Province, Iran, with a focus on assessing associated health risks and environmental implications. A cross-sectional research design was employed, and soil samples were collected in Spring 2023. The samples were analyzed for metal concentrations using Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS), a highly sensitive instrument for detecting trace elements. Statistical analyses, including pollution indices such as geo-accumulation index (Igeo), enrichment factor (EF), and Nemerow integrated pollution index (NIPI), were performed to evaluate contamination levels. The results revealed significant variability in metal concentrations, with Vanadium (V) averaging 117.05 ppm and Molybdenum (Mo) at 1.51 ppm. Several counties exceeded Iranian soil standards for V, and pervasive enrichment of Antimony (Sb) was identified, indicating widespread contamination. While health risk assessments based on hazard quotients and hazard indices were below thresholds for immediate concern, the notable presence of Sb and other elements suggests potential long-term health and environmental risks. This research contributes novel insights into trace element pollution in tea-growing regions, highlighting the necessity for continuous monitoring and targeted remediation strategies to protect public health and preserve environmental quality.

To understand the impact of fireworks on heavy metals in dust, the human health and ecological risks and source identification of six common heavy metals, lead (Pb), chromium (Cr), arsenic (As), copper (Cu), zinc (Zn) and nickel (Ni), were investigated in aged dust (AD) and fireworks dust (FD) collected from seven main administrative districts in Beijing. The health risk was assessed with the hazard quotient (HQ) and hazard index (HI) for non-carcinogenic elements and the carcinogenic risk (RI) for carcinogenic elements. The potential ecological risk was estimated based on the ecological risk index (RI). Principal component analysis (PCA) and Pearson correlation analysis were conducted to identify the main sources of the heavy metals. The results showed that the mean concentrations of these metals in both AD and FD were much higher than the corresponding background values in Beijing soil; the Cu and Zn concentrations were significantly elevated by firework burning, while the other four metal concentrations in AD and FD were similar. The HQ and HI values for Cr, Zn, As and Cu in FD were higher than those in AD, indicating that the health risk of heavy metals in dust increased due to firework burning. The ecological risk of the above heavy metals in five of the seven studied districts increased from low to moderate or considerable risk after firework burning. Based on the PCA results, fireworks are an extra pollution source for heavy metals in dust. This research will help the government to implement effective measures to improve urban environmental quality.

Human health risk assessment of heavy metals in beer brands from Tanzania market

To assess the contamination of agricultural soils by heavy metals (HMs) in the Kebir-Rhumel basin of northeastern Algeria, soil samples from a depth of 0–20 cm were analyzed for metal concentration (Cd, Cr, Cu, Pb, and Zn). Pollution levels and ecological risks were evaluated using several indices, including the contamination factor (Cf), contamination degree (Cd), ecological risk factor (Er) and potential ecological risk index (PERI). These metrics specifically targeted soils irrigated with river water. Human health risks were assessed using the hazard index (HI) and carcinogenic risk (CR) indices based on ingestion exposure pathways for adults and children. The concentration of heavy metals in the agricultural soils of the Kebir-Rhumel basin followed this order: Zn > Cr > Pb > Cu > Cd. The average concentrations of Cd, Cr, Cu, Pb, and Zn were 0.84, 60.83, 39.26, 58.01, and 93.71 µg.g−1, respectively. Notably, pollution levels of Pb, Cd, and Cu were particularly concerning with concentrations exceeding background levels at 85%, 75% and 70% of sampling sites, respectively. Health risk assessments indicated that the average hazard index (HI) and hazard quotient (HQ) values were below 1. However, the carcinogenic risk (CR) and total carcinogenic risk (TCR) for Cd, Cr, and Pb were higher for children compared to adults. TCR mean values were about 4.93E − 05 and 4.61E − 04 for both adults and children, with chromium identified as the primary contributor to carcinogenic risk. Both CR and TCR exceeded the acceptable carcinogenic risk threshold of 1.0E − 04, potentially posing carcinogenic risks through extended exposition. Overall, these findings highlight significant concerns regarding soil quality in this region. This study can guide the development of effective strategies for monitoring, mitigating and managing the levels of heavy metals in agricultural soils, thereby ensuring the safeguarding of the human health.

Hydrochemical properties and heavy metal concentrations (ecological and human risk) of lake Rukwa

(1) Pome fruits (apples and pears) are among the most frequently consumed fruits in Europe and may contribute to dietary exposure to pesticide residues. Although residue levels generally comply with maximum residue limits (MRLs), even low concentrations may cumulatively contribute to chronic health risks under conditions of frequent and long-term consumption. This study aimed to quantitatively assess dietary exposure and the potential non-carcinogenic health risks associated with pesticide residues in apples and pears, using representative monitoring and consumption data. (2) The assessment was based on results of the Polish national official monitoring program for pesticide residues in food, specifically apples and pears sampled in 2022, as reported by the National Institute of Public Health (NIZP-PZH). These data were combined with age- and body weight-specific consumption scenarios derived from FAO/WHO GEMS/Food cluster diets and national Polish statistics. For the most frequently detected pesticides (captan, flonicamid, acetamiprid and fosetyl-Al in apples; captan and acetamiprid in pears), the mean and 95th percentile concentrations were used to estimate the estimated daily intake (EDI). Non-carcinogenic risk was characterized using the hazard quotient (HQ = EDI/ADI) and the cumulative Hazard Index (HI). The hazard quotient (HQ) was calculated as the ratio of estimated daily intake to the acceptable daily intake (HQ = EDI/ADI), while the Hazard Index (HI) was defined as the sum of individual HQ values for pesticides detected in a given commodity and exposure scenario (HI = ΣHQ). Calculations were performed separately for children and adults under several dietary scenarios (Polish general population, German child, German general population, GEMS/Food G08). (3) For all pesticides and exposure scenarios, the HQ values were well below 1, indicating no exceedance of the acceptable daily intake (ADI). The highest chronic exposure was observed for apples in children (German child scenario), with the HQ values for captan, flonicamid and acetamiprid in the approximate range of 0.01-0.05, while the HI remained < 0.1 even under high-consumption conditions. In adults (Polish and German general populations, GEMS/Food G08), HQ values were approximately one order of magnitude lower than in children, and the cumulative HI values for both apples and pears were far below 1. The contribution of pears to total exposure was limited, reflecting lower consumption and fewer active substances detected. (4) This quantitative risk assessment, based on Polish monitoring data from 2022, indicates that under current residue levels and consumption patterns, chronic dietary exposure to pesticide residues from apples and pears does not pose a relevant non-carcinogenic health concern for either children or adults. Nevertheless, children consistently showed higher relative exposure than adults, underscoring the importance of age-stratified risk assessment and continued monitoring of residues in commonly consumed fruits. The findings support existing regulatory frameworks while justifying sustained, targeted surveillance of key active substances in pome fruits as part of public health prevention strategies.

The heavy metals (Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb, and Zn) were quantified in 26 roasted coffee samples (19 Arabica and 7 Robusta) consumed in Turkey using ICP-OES. Cd and Pb were not detected in any sample. Cr was found only in Robusta samples, with a mean concentration of 0.58mg/kg. The average concentrations of Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, and Zn were 12.34 and 13.10mg/kg, 13.67 and 14.69mg/kg, 23.37 and 11.66mg/kg, 0.04 and 1.17mg/kg, and 8.31 and 7.19mg/kg in Arabica and Robusta coffee samples, respectively. The heavy metal concentrations were compared with international limits and literature values. To assess the human health risk posed by heavy metals in the coffee samples, the estimated daily intake (EDI), hazard quotient (HQ), and hazard index (HI) were calculated based on average coffee consumption. All the EDI values were below the oral reference doses (RfDs), and both the HQ and HI values were less than 1, indicating no significant non-carcinogenic health risk associated with coffee consumption. Descriptive statistics summarized heavy metal levels, while inferential statistical tests evaluated differences among the coffee-growing regions and between the coffee bean species.

Background: Anthropogenic activities such as excessive oil exploration, automobile emissions with agricultural activities, etc tend to elevate the concentrations of heavy metals in the soil. These metals are accumulated by plant roots, thereby resulting to heavy metal contamination of such plants.&#x0D; Objectives: This study evaluated the concentration of heavy metals namely: Lead (Pb), Cadmium (Cd), Nickel (Ni), Arsenic (As), Iron (Fe), and Copper (Cu) in edible vegetables from selected communities in Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area (ONELGA), Rivers State, Nigeria, and the concentrations of these metals were used to assess the human health risk posed to the consumers of the edible vegetables.&#x0D; Materials and Methods: Sixteen different vegetable samples comprising Vernonia amygdalina, Talinum triangulare, Abelmoschus esculentus and Telfairia occidentalis were digested and analyzed for heavy metals using Flame Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer (F-AAS). Results obtained from this study were used to estimate the human health risk of these heavy metals.&#x0D; Results: The results showed that the concentrations of Pb, Cd, Ni, As, Fe, and Cu ranged from 0.168-4.908; 0.364-2.977; 2.780-10.241; 0.157-2.633; 61.589-101.520 and 12.029-46.540 mg/kg, respectively. The concentrations of Pb, Cd, Ni and As in some of the analyzed vegetable samples exceeded the permissible limit as recommended by WHO/FAO, EC/CODEX and NAFDAC respectively. The concentration of Fe and Cu were below the permissible limit as recommended by WHO/FAO. The Estimated Daily Intake (EDI) of Pb and Cd exceeded the permissible tolerable daily intake of metals (TDI) but fall within the upper tolerable daily intake (UTDI) recommended by Institute of medicine, FDA, also Ni, Fe, and Cu fall within the recommended TDI and the UTDI. The EDI values of As exceeded the recommended TDI and the UTDI. The Target Hazard Quotient (THQ) and Hazard Index (HI) values of Pb, Cd, Cu and Ni were greater than 1. The Life Cancer Risk (LCR) of Pb were within the range of permissible predicted lifetime risks for carcinogens as recommended by US EPA.&#x0D; Conclusion: The result from the present study indicate that the exposed population may be at risk of Pb, Cd, Ni and Cu toxicity.

Despite increasing interest in the environmental legacies of artisanal and small-scale gold mining (ASGM), the health implications associated with the consumption of crops cultivated on abandoned, naturally revegetated mine sites (ANRGS) in Ghana remain critically under-researched. In response to this gap, the present study comprehensively assesses heavy metal contamination in cucumber, soil, and pit water sampled from a six-year-old abandoned, naturally revegetated illegal mining site (ANRGS). Human health risk assessments were conducted rigorously using standard models for Chronic Daily Intake (CDI), Hazard Quotient (HQ), Hazard Index (HI), and Incremental Lifetime Cancer Risk (ILCR). Heavy metal concentrations in soil, pit water, and cucumber were measured using standard acid digestion and analysed with Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS, Nexion 2000, PerkinElmer), along with a Palintest multi-meter for water quality parameters, following validated protocols. The results revealed that cucumber fruits produced from the ANRGS were contaminated with high levels of Hg, Cd, Cu, As, and Pb, which exceeded the USEPA reference doses. Soil samples recorded concentrations of Hg (28.61 mg/kg), Cd (44.19 mg/kg), Pb (25.91 mg/kg), Fe (2073.1 mg/kg), As (30.08 mg/kg), and Cu (286.55 mg/kg), all above recommended soil guidelines. Although pit water met WHO physical standards, it was significantly contaminated with Cu, Cd, and As, surpassing WHO limits for drinking and irrigation. The health risk analysis indicated both noncarcinogenic and carcinogenic risks for children and adults through cucumber and pit water consumption. The Hazard Index (HI) ranged from 0.447 to 380 for children and 0.13–173 for adults, associated with cancer risks due to elevated As, Cd, and Pb levels. Children were more vulnerable to both health risks than adults. The study concludes that cucumbers grown on ANRGS at Ajamesu pose significant health risks and are unfit for consumption.

Groundwater is a vital resource of potable water in India as almost all industries require water due to one or other reasons. It may get polluted by industrial waste, leachate from dumping yards, rampage, and uncontrolled use of pesticides. The physicochemical properties of water give a general indication of the interference capability of water with the normal biological process of the environment. Most heavy metals are present in trace amounts in the groundwater and useful for the human body. However, if they exceed the permissible limits these may cause health hazards. In this study, an attempt has been made to assess, analyze, and mapping groundwater quality using the Geographical information system (GIS). In this study, five heavy metals (aluminium, arsenic, cadmium, iron, selenium) and six physiochemical parameters (pH, total hardness, alkalinity, chloride, fluoride) have been used to achieve the objectives. Gurdaspur (Punjab, India) was selected for the study as it ranks fourth in the cancer cases after Amritsar, Ludhiana, and Bathinda as per the government reports. Field visits were made to collect samples and preservation techniques were followed according to standard methods (APHA 2005). Single-digit indices like the water quality index (WQI), heavy metal pollution index (HPI), metal index (MI) were used to classify the quality of water. Volumetric analysis and ion chromatography tests were carried out on the grab samples of 25 locations, which were collected in Dec’2019. Arsenic was found to exceed the permissible value in nearly 80% of samples. It has been observed that MI values exceeded the critical value of 1, indicating the pollution caused by the individual metal was more as compared to the pollution caused by all metals together. IDW interpolation technique was applied to all indices using GIS software to determine spatial distribution. Overall, WQI was found to be satisfactory, with only 20% of the sampling stations exceeding the acceptance value. The average value of the heavy metal pollution index (HPI) was 80% of the sampling stations. Further, an attempt has been made to determine the cancer risk of the inhabitants in the study area. The health risk index (HRI) was determined by chronic daily intake and hazard quotient as per USEPA. The hazard quotient (HQ) value of heavy metals was found to be greater than unity in all the selected areas, indicating that heavy metals pose a health threat in this region. It has been observed that the hazard quotient value is higher for children than adults, implying more vulnerability of children to a potential health hazard. Actual total cancer risk was found to be 33.65×10-4, which means ~34 persons in 10,000 people have the possibility of cancer. A hypothesis was made which reduced the theoretical risk to 31.65×10-4 which was found to be comparable to the actual cancer risk. It has been observed that the cancer risk for the children and adults were in the “high risk” category. The higher values of arsenic can be attributed to higher cancer risk and health quotient value. Both children and adults were found to be risk-prone to both carcinogen and noncarcinogen health effects, with children on the higher side.

It is evident from the past studies that dust fallout is a severe concern due to its impact to urban air quality and public health. This study mainly examines the spatial and seasonal variation of dustfall at ambient levels and chemical characterization of its insoluble fraction for Kharagpur Town, India. Dustfall samples were collected monthly for 1year (July 2014 to June 2015) from four sampling sites. The results showed that the maximum dustfall deposition is found during summer (March to June) and in the range of 2.01 ± 0.36 to 15.74 ± 3.83tonkm-2month-1, and minimum deposition is during monsoon season (July to October) in the range of 0.42 ± 0.72 to 7.38 ± 5.8tonkm-2month-1. Selected metals likeSc, V, Cr, Co, Ni, Zn, Y, Zr, Ce, Hf, and Pb were analyzed using the high-resolution inductively coupled mass spectrometer (HR-ICP-MS) technique, and the contamination level of heavy metals was assessed using the geoaccumulation index (Igeo) and enrichment factor (EF). To estimate the sources for the metallic contaminants, principal component analysis (PCA) was conducted. The US EPA health risk assessment model was applied to determine the hazard index and hazard quotient values. The results show the significant level of enrichment for Pb (EF = 41.79) and Cr (EF = 4.39). The Igeo values point out moderate contamination by Pb (Igeo = 2.01) and Cr (Igeo = 1.6) in Kharagpur Town. This study suggests that in the context of noncancer risk of heavy metals as determined by the hazard index (HI) and hazard quotient (HQ) values, ingestion is the main source of exposure to dust in adults and children followed by dermal contact. Considering the inhalation route, carcinogenic risk level of Cr, Co, and Ni for adults and children is lower than the EPA's safe limit (10-6 to 10-4), indicating that cancer risk of these metals due to exposure to dustfall in Kharagpur is negligible.