Mercury soil contents and associated ecological and health risks in kindergartens and functional areas of the city of Vanadzor (Armenia)

Lilit Sahakyan,Armen Saghatelyan,Nairuhi Maghakyan,Gayane Melkonyan,Gevorg Tepanosyan

doi:10.24057/2071-9388-2019-121

Lilit Sahakyan, Armen Saghatelyan + Show 3 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.24057/2071-9388-2019-121

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Abstract

Mercury is a widespread environmental pollutant becoming a crucial health concern as a result of natural and anthropogenic releases. Understanding Hg distribution pattern between different functional urban areas is needed for urban pollution control and health impact assessment. Therefore, in this paper urban soil Hg spatial distribution, pollution level evaluation, and mercury-induced health risks were studied, for different urban functional areas (355 samples) and kindergartens (18 samples) of Vanadzor. Geospatial mapping and the geostatistical analysis suggest that Hg concentration in the entire area of Vanadzor and its kindergartens has a natural origin, besides a certain anthropogenic impact on some urban sites. According to geoaccumulation index (Igeo), uncontaminated or moderately contaminated levels were detected only in 2 samples from industrial area and 5 samples from residential area, the remaining samples were classified as uncontaminated. In all kindergartens and the 22.15 sq.km of the city (270 samples) are characterized by low level potential ecological risk, whereas 3.85 sq.km (85 samples) correspond to moderate and for 1 sampling site high level of potential ecological risk. A non-carcinogenic health risk assessed for children and adults indicates health hazards neither in Vanadzor entire areas nor in kindergartens. The hazard index (HI) in each urban functional area is less than allowable level (HI <1) for children and adults. Obtained results are indicative and offer the ability for better management of urban soil and urban planning in terms of Hg pollution regulation in different functional areas.

Highlights

Mercury is one of the metals which pose a grave environmental threat worldwide (Yanin 1992; B.J. Alloway 2013; Driscoll et al 2013)
As evidenced by descriptive statistic data (Table 3), mercury contents of 184 soil samples collected from Vanadzor residential area vary from 0.0015 to 0.29 mg/kg, with a mean value of 0.043 mg/kg, which is equal to mean values obtained for the entire area of the city
The mean contents of soil samples throughout Vanadzor city range from 0.025-0.04 mg/kg which are common to urban soils

Summary

INTRODUCTION

Mercury is one of the metals which pose a grave environmental threat worldwide (Yanin 1992; B.J. Alloway 2013; Driscoll et al 2013). A special emphasis is placed on children since their organisms and immune system are still immature Another fact to explain the sensitivity of children is that for them is more likely to come into contact with soils/soil-derived materials and that due to low stature they inhale topsoil weatheringinduced contaminants more intensively than adults (Mielke 2011; Kumpiene and Brännvall 2011; Tepanosyan et al 2017a). It needs to take into consideration so-called main venues, which for children commonly are kindergartens (Sun et al 2013; Zheng et al 2015), for adults – certain functional urban areas (Jing et al 2012). To understand the current city state of Hg pollution, this particular research was initiated with a purpose of 1. detecting mercury contents in Vanadzor’s functional areas and kindergartens, 2. establishing regularities of mercury distribution and 3. assessing mercuryinduced health risks

MATERIAL AND METHODS

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