Heavy Metal(loid)s Pollution of Agricultural Soils and Health Risk Assessment of Consuming Soybean and Wheat in a Typical Non-Ferrous Metal Mine Area in Northeast China

Dexian Li,Xiaosai Li,Ruiping Li,Juan Wang,Guannan Liu,Yuanyi Zhao

doi:10.3390/su14052953

Dexian Li, Xiaosai Li + Show 4 more

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https://doi.org/10.3390/su14052953

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Abstract

During mining, some of the essential metal(loid)s for plants or humans are discharged into the environment with non-essential metal(loid)s. Thus, comprehensive investigations of their distribution and the health risk of consuming food crops near mines are significant. A total of 26 soils and 25 food crops (soybean grains and wheat grains) were sampled to investigate arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), chromium (Cr), copper (Cu), mercury (Hg), lead (Pb), zinc (Zn), selenium (Se), molybdenum (Mo), and manganese (Mn) in soils and crops in a typical non-ferrous metal mine area in Northeast China. The distribution patterns of soil heavy metal(loid)s and principal component analysis (PCA) results indicated that Cd, Cu, Zn, Mo, and Mn in soils were significantly affected by mining activities and were mainly or partly derived from the mines. Moreover, these soil heavy metal(loid)s (except Se) in the Tongshan copper mine area were attenuated with distance in the downstream direction. The BCF (bioconcentration factor) values of non-essential elements (Se, Hg, Cr, As, Cd, Pb) were relatively lower and positively related to soil nutrients. On the contrary, higher BCF values of essential elements (Cu, Zn, and Mo) and a weak relationship between the BCF of essential elements and soil nutrients were found. The mean Igeo values of soil heavy metal(loid)s indicated that As and Cu were at an unpolluted-to-moderately-polluted level (Igeo > 1), while other heavy metal(loid)s all presented an unpolluted level (Igeo < 1). Nevertheless, some soil samples were obviously polluted (Igeo > 1), such as KQ, D1, D3, D5, D6, and T1. The HQ (hazard quotient) and HI (hazard index) values of As and Mn both exceeded 1, indicating the higher potential health risks of consuming soybean grains and wheat grains for all people groups.

Highlights

Introduction iationsSoil is a major component of the Earth’s ecosystem, supplying essential nutrients for plant growth
Tailings generated from Duobaoshan copper mine and Tongshan copper mine are discharged into a tailings pond located about 5 km south of Duobaoshan copper mine
cation-exchange capacity (CEC) values of Duobaoshan copper mine (DM), Tongshan copper mine (TM) and downstream of Duobaoshan stream (DDS) were higher than KQ soil

Summary

Introduction

Soil is a major component of the Earth’s ecosystem, supplying essential nutrients for plant growth. With the rapid development of the economy, substantial amounts of heavy metal(loid)s have been discharged into soils through sewage irrigation, fertilization, and mining activities, etc. [1–4], inducing an accumulation of these elements in food crops. Food crops are the main sources of the essential nutrients, minerals, and vitamins required by human beings for maintaining good health [5]. Food consumption is the major pathway of human exposure to heavy metal(loid)s, accounting for >90% compared with other ways of exposure, such as inhalation and dermal contact [6]. Heavy metal(loid)s in food crops can be accumulated in the human body through the food chain, posing a potential health risk [7–9]. Heavy metal(loid)s in food crops create significant health risks to the possible consumers of these crops [3,5,6,10].

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