Simultaneous Health Risk Assessment of Potentially Toxic Elements in Soils and Sediments of the Guishui River Basin, Beijing.

Jiankang Wang,Yanyan Li,Laisheng Liu,Bo Gao,Dongyu Xu,Shuhua Yin

doi:10.3390/ijerph16224539

Abstract

Simultaneous ecological and health risk assessments of potentially toxic elements in soils and sediments can provide substantial information on their environmental influence at the river-basin scale. Herein, soil and sediment samples were collected from the Guishui River basin to evaluate the pollution situation and the ecological and health risk of potentially toxic elements. Various indexes were utilized for quantitatively assessing their health risks. Pollution assessment by geo-accumulation index showed that Cd had “uncontaminated to moderately polluted” status in the soils and sediments. Potential ecological risk index showed that the Guishui River basin was at low risk in general, but Cd was classified as “moderate or considerable ecological risk” both in the soils and sediments. Health risk assessment calculated human exposure from soils and indicated that both non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic risks of the selected potentially toxic elements were lower than the acceptable levels. Health risks posed by potentially toxic elements bio-accumulated in fish, stemming from sediment resuspension, were also assessed. Non-carcinogenic hazard index indicated no adverse health effects on humans via exposure to sediments; however, in general, Cr contributed largely to health risks among the selected potentially toxic elements. Therefore, special attention needs to be paid to the Guishui River basin in the future.

Highlights

Toxic elements (PTEs) are among the most ubiquitous pollutants found in the environment [1]
Compared with the background value in the soil of Beijing [23], the average concentration of all the studied Potentially toxic elements (PTEs) in soils and sediments were lower than the background value, except for Cd
The average concentration of Cd in soils and sediments was 3 times and 2.6 times higher than in the background value, respectively, indicating that there may be a potential risk for Cd in the Guishui River basin

Summary

Introduction

Toxic elements (PTEs) are among the most ubiquitous pollutants found in the environment [1]. With the acceleration of industrialization, urbanization, and agriculture, soil and sediment pollution by PTEs has accelerated in China in the last two decades [3,4]. At a river basin scale, PTEs in soil and sediment can undergo migration and transfer though natural processes or anthropogenic activities [5,6]. The high toxicity and wide prevalence of PTEs in the soils and sediments has been a potential risk for the environment and human health [7]. A better understanding of the ecological impacts and health risks of PTEs in soils and sediments of the river basin is worthwhile.

Methods

Results

Conclusion