Mercury Content, and Health Risks Assessment in the Surface Soil from Selected Sites in Kirkuk, Northern Iraq

Abstract

The current research aims to find the levels of the mercury element in the surface soils from selected locations of Kirkuk Governorate and assess their ecological and health risks to it. Forty-one specimen were collected from the upper part of Top soil at a depth of 0-20cm and analyzed with a inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. The results showed that the total concentration of mercury in this soil reached (47.19 μg/kg) Mercury showed high concentrations within the sites of sanitary incineration operations in Al-Nasr hospital (72 μg/kg), and in some sanitary landfill sites in the Al-Zandan area reached a value of 89 μg/kg which is higher than the internationally recorded values of 70 μg/kg. The values of the enrichment factor rates for all samples showed that it falls within (deficiency to minimal enrichment), and the contamination index rate is of the low contamination type, while the ecological risk factor appeared to be of low risk(low potential ecological risk), health risk factors (Hazard Quotient) and hazard index for the element mercury in the soil of the study area showed that there are no non-carcinogenic health effects and for the three pathways inhalation, skin contact and ingestion for adults and children in the soil of the study area .