Hygienic assessment of carcinogenic health risks associated with contamination of depositing media with heavy metals

Abstract

In nature there are depositing media which are relatively stable macrosystems. Their contamination that occurs due to long-term exposure to contaminants influences population health and this is especially vital for urbanized territories with large city-forming enterprises. Our research goal was to perform hygienic assessment of carcinogenic risks for population health under exposure to heavy metals contained in depositing media. We analyzed long-term data on contents of heavy metals in such accumulating media as soils and foods collected in 2005–2018. The data were taken from the reports on social and hygienic monitoring and statistical reports provided by the Orenburg Regional Office of the Federal State Statistics Service. Carcinogenic risks were assessed in accordance with the Guide R 2.1.10.1920-04. We used data provided by the territorial section of the National Cancer Registry to analyze prevalence of oncologic diseases of the digestive organs. We performed correlation analysis to examine correlations between the analyzed factors. The total carcinogenic risk under multi-route introduction of heavy metals from such depositing media as soils and foods has turned out to be unacceptable and amounts to 1.5E-04. The total population carcinogenic risk caused by exposure to heavy metals can reach 85 additional cases of malignant neoplasms over an averaged exposure period which is equal to 70 years. Heavy metals were detected in soils, nickel, cadmium, and chromium VI included, that produced statistically authentic effects on occurrence of malignant neoplasms in the digestive organs. We established an authentic correlation between developing malignant neoplasms in the digestive organs and concentrations of arsenic in foods. We didn’t detect any heavy metals with carcinogenic properties in such accumulating media as soils and foods in concentrations deviating from hygienic standards. But still, it doesn’t mean there is no negative influence on population health, notably long-term effects and developing malignant neoplasms.