Quantitative source apportionment and health risk assessment of trace elements in surface soils around the Shazand chemical industrial district, northwestern of Iran

Abstract

A comprehensive study aimed at measuring trace elements pollution in the Shazand chemical industrial district, located in northwestern Iran, was conducted. Employing principal component analysis (PCA) and positive matrix factorization (PMF), we identified sources of trace elements and assessed associated health risks for inhabitants. The results showed that the mean concentrations of Pb, Cd, Ni, Zn, and As of 190 topsoil samples exceeded the background values, except for Cu. The total noncancer risk values for adults and children were 0.72 and 7.95, respectively, and the total carcinogenic risks were 8.46 E – 05 and 2.69 E – 04, respectively. The noncarcinogenic risk for children was above the threshold level, but low for adults. The total potential carcinogenic health risks for children exceeded the threshold of 1 E – 04 indicating a high carcinogenic risk for them, whereas the risk for adults was considered acceptable. Furthermore, As was the primary hazardous metal to human health, followed by Cd and Ni. According to the results of the PMF model, four factors were extracted for trace elements, including natural source, transportation sources, industrial sources, and agricultural sources, which contributed about 27.9%, 17.51%, 29.15%, and 25.44% to pollution of the area, respectively. Anthropogenic sources contributed far more to the potential health risks posed to inhabitants of the study area. These findings can assist governmental agencies in implementing targeted control strategies to prevent the contamination of heavy metals.