Non-carcinogenic Human Health Risks Research Articles

Effects of power station and abattoir on PAH input into sediments of Oji River: ecological and human health exposure risks.

This study investigated the concentration and sources of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in the sediments of Oji River due to point sources of pollution from abattoir and power plant and determined the ecological and human health risks associated with the PAHs in the sediments. Oji River in Nigeria receives contaminants from anthropogenic activities relating to waste tires used in singeing cow meats in abattoir and preparing hides and skin for local consumption. It also receives contaminants from power distribution station where the defunct coal power plant used to be situated. These activities have the potential to release polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons that could accumulate in the river sediments. The PAHs were measured using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). This study found that the abattoir is responsible for the occurrence of benzo[b]fluoranthene, benzo[k]fluoranthene and benzo[a]pyrene in the sediments around the abattoir. The occurrence and distribution of PAHs around the area affected by the power station was profound as among all the 16 priority PAHs; only naphthalene benzo[g,h,i]perylene, dibenzo[a,h]anthracene and indeno[1,2,3-cd]pyrene were not detected. The five-member ring PAHs were predominant in this section of the river affected by power station. Ecological risks of the PAHs due to the effects of the power station are significant. The total toxicity equivalence (TEQ) of the PAHs upstream the abattoir is insignificant but significant around the abattoir and within the area impacted by the power station. The values of the hazard index (HI) and risk index (RI) indicate insignificant carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic human health risks in all the locations except the area within the influence of the power station where there are insignificant non-carcinogenic risks but significant carcinogenic risks.

Accumulation of trace elements in leatherback turtle (Dermochelys coriacea) eggs from the south-western Caribbean indicates potential health risks to consumers.

Trace metal and metalloid levels were measured in eggs of the NW Atlantic leatherback turtle (Dermochelys coriacea) from nesting grounds in the Bocas del Toro province, Panama, to infer exposure and associated risks to local communities. Samples were analyzed for a set of 26 essential and non-essential elements using inductively coupled plasma techniques. Median concentrations of Fe, Zn, As, Se and Sr in D.coriacea eggs were higher than previously reported for this species, which likely reflects differential contamination levels of specimens during foraging. The evaluation of non-carcinogenic human health risks from ingesting leatherback eggs has revealed potential deleterious effects due to high concentrations of As, Se and Sr for all examined age and gender groups, while Hg and Zn levels were above international standards for children. Hazard index (HI) values exceeded unity in all cases indicating serious health impacts related to possible additive effects of multiple metals co-occurring in the eggs. Our findings suggest that exposure to high (inorganic) As and Cr(VI) levels is associated with an increased carcinogenic risk, significantly exceeding the acceptable lifetime risk of 10-6 for both adults and children. Despite some limitations, such as unclear As and Cr speciation, our results demonstrated that the ingestion of D.coriacea eggs poses considerable health risks to local communities, and their consumption should not exceed 3.4×10-4g (5.0×10-6 eggs) kg BW d-1. Resource managers and conservationists should focus their attention to human health effects as an alternative tool to address egg poaching and consumption.

Groundwater quality appraisal for non-carcinogenic human health risks and irrigation purposes in a part of Yamuna sub-basin, India

In this study, groundwater quality in part of Yamuna sub-basin, comprising of Panipat district of Haryana, India, impacted by agricultural and industrial activities, was evaluated for the non-carcinogenic human health risks associated with drinking water quality. The hazard quotient (HQ) associated with the occurrence of fluoride and nitrate in groundwater was calculated for the adults and children. Hazard index (HI) induced by the fluoride and nitrate in groundwater of the study area indicated that the children were more prone to non-carcinogenic human health risk than the adults. The Eastern half of the study area had better WQI than the Western half where the value of WQI was greater than 100 and cannot be recommended for drinking purposes. The correlation plot for groundwater quality exhibited that the alkaline conditions and presence of Na+ and HCO3- favored the high fluoride content, and the source of nitrate in groundwater was mainly anthropogenic in nature. Further, suitability of groundwater samples for irrigational purposes was evaluated by comparing several irrigational indices. Approximately 80% groundwater samples were found suitable for irrigation purposes except for some locations where adequate sub-surface drainage system has to be developed.

Entropy water quality index and probabilistic health risk assessment from geochemistry of groundwaters in hard rock terrain of Nanganur County, South India

Sixty-one groundwater samples collected from the hard rock terrain of Nanganur region in South India, were evaluated for hydrogeochemistry as well as groundwater quality for drinking and irrigation purposes. Additionally, the probabilistic non-carcinogenic human health risks associated with fluoride and nitrate concentrations were assessed using the US Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) mathematical model. The hydrogeochemical facies, i.e. Ca2+-Mg2+-SO42− and Na+-Cl--SO42−, are result of weathering and dissolution of rocks, ion exchange between Ca2+ and Na+, and precipitation of CaCO3, and influences of anthropogenic sources. Molar ratio Na+/Cl-, and distributions of Ca2++Mg2+ versus HCO3-+SO42−, Ca2++Mg2+ versus total cations (TC), and Na++K+ versus TC indicate that silicate weathering is the prime source for the ions. Gibbs diagram also suggests that rock-water interaction is the primary process of ionic concentrations in this groundwater system. About 18% groundwater samples show medium salinity and low sodium hazards and 73% of them, however, have high salinity and low sodium hazards. Wilcox diagram indicates that most groundwater samples (92%) are suitable for irrigation. However, 66% of them exceeded the prescribed limits of nitrate (45 mg/L) and 62% these groundwater samples exceeded limit of fluoride (1.5 mg/L) for drinking purpose. Hazard quotient of nitrate (HQNitrate) and HQFluoride as well as total non-carcinogenic health risk of fluoride and nitrate (HITotal) indicates that infants and children are more vulnerable to non-carcinogenic risk than adults. Based on these results, we recommend regulation of fertilizer application and appropriate remediation for defluoridation of drinking water to prevent the further health risk.

Composting of municipal solid waste by different methods improved the growth of vegetables and reduced the health risks of cadmium and lead.

Reutilization of putrescible municipal solid wastes (MSW) in agriculture can provide valuable plant nutrients. However, it may pose serious noncarcinogenic health risks for a human when contaminants, especially the heavy metals in MSW, end up in plants through the waste-soil-plant continuum. This study examined the effects of composting methods viz. aerobically (AC), anaerobically (ANC), and aerobic-anaerobically (AANC) composted MSW material on (i) fertilizer value: vegetable yield, nitrogen (N) mineralization, and apparent N recovery (ANR); and (ii) associated health risks: selected heavy metal concentration, daily intake of metals (DIM), health risk index (HRI), hazard index (HI), and target hazard quotient (THQ) when applied to a loamy soil. All the aforementioned compost materials were incorporated into the sandy loam soil filled in pots and carrot and spinach were cultivated for 85 and 90days, respectively. After soil application, between 51 and 56% of the applied organic N was mineralized from ANC material, while the values in case of AC and AANC were 26-31% and 34-40%, respectively. Consequently, dry matter yield and vegetable N uptake from composts were in the order ANC > AANC > AC (P < 0.05). Further, vegetable ANR was the highest from ANC (56 and 56%) than AANC (42 and 45%), and AC (30 and 33%) for spinach and carrot, respectively (P < 0.05). Interestingly, plant uptake of lead and cadmium was lowest from ANC as compared to AC or AANC (P < 0.05), irrespective of the vegetable type. Consequently, DIM, HRI, and THQ for these metals were substantially lower in the former as compared to the latter compost materials. Further, HI from ANC material was 50% lower over the unfertilized control indicating the absence of noncarcinogenic human health risks via vegetable intake. This all indicates that from viewpoint of sustainable waste recycling in agriculture, anaerobic composting is superior to the other composting methods.

Assessing the potential origins and human health risks of trace elements in groundwater: A case study in the Khoy plain, Iran.

The objectives of this study were to measure some trace element concentrations in the groundwater of the Khoy area in northwestern Iran, understand their potential origins using multivariate statistical approaches (correlation analysis, cluster analysis and factor analysis), and evaluate their non-carcinogenic human health risks to local residents through drinking water intake. The trace element status of the groundwater and the associated health risks in the study area have not previously been reported. Groundwater water samples were collected from 54 water sources in July 2017 in the study area. Samples were measured for EC, pH, major and minor elements and some trace elements (Fe, Mn, Al, Zn, Cr, Pb, Cd, Co, Ni and As). The levels of EC, F, Cd, Pb, Zn, As and all the major ions except K exceeded permissible levels for drinking water. Multivariate analysis showed that the quality of groundwater was mainly controlled by geogenic factors followed by anthropogenic impacts. Health risk assessment results indicated that Cr and As in the groundwater, with hazard quotient values of 0.0001 and 11.55, respectively, had the lowest and highest impacts of non-carcinogenic risk to adults and children in the area. The high-risk samples were mainly situated in the northeast and southwest of the Khoy plain where the groundwater was saline. The health risk associated with water consumption from the unconfined aquifer was higher than that from the confined aquifer in the study area. Special attention should be paid to groundwater management in the high-risk areas to control factors (e.g., EC, pH and redox) that stimulate the release of trace elements into groundwater.

Status of mercury accumulation in agricultural soil across China: Spatial distribution, temporal trend, influencing factor and risk assessment

Given its wide distribution in the natural environment and global transport potential, mercury (Hg) is regarded as a ubiquitous pollutant. In this study, we carried out nation-wide sampling campaigns across China to investigate the distribution of Hg in agricultural soils. Concentrations of Hg in the soils collected in 2011 and 2016 ranged from 0.04 to 0.69 and 0.06–0.78 mg kg−1, respectively. Based on the data from 2016, the reserve of Hg in the surface arable soils (0–20 cm) in China was 4.1 × 104 metric tons and Chinese cultivated soils accounted for 63.4–364 metric tons of Hg released to the global atmosphere. The soil Hg concentrations were significantly higher than the reference background level, highlighting the impacts of anthropogenic activities. The vertical distribution pattern showed a clear enrichment at the surface and a decrease with depth of the soils. Comparison of calculated geo-accumulation indexes among individual provinces showed that Northwest China had higher levels of Hg contamination than other regions of China, likely due to long-term energy related combustions in the area. Soil Hg level showed strong positive correlations with organic matter contents of soil, as well as the mean annual precipitation and temperature of the sampling locations. The non-carcinogenic human health risks of soil Hg were below the threshold level, but the general risk to the ecosystem was considerable. The increases in Hg accumulation from 2011 to 2016 at provincial level were found to relate to coal combustion, power generation and per capita GDP. This examination of energy consumption and socioeconomic drivers for China's soil Hg reserve increase is critical for direct Hg control by guiding policy-making and targets of technology development in era of rapid economic growth.

Environmental risk assessment of the emerging EDCs contaminants from rural soil and aqueous sources: Analytical and modelling approaches

The emerging endocrine disrupting chemicals posed high risk and much uncertainty to eco-environment and human health. An analytical method, developed for the simultaneous determination of five steroid estrogens in groundwater and soil based upon solid phase extraction and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, was applied to investigate the distribution of estrone and 17β-estradiol around Shenyang City with particular focus on penetrating from surface to groundwater in this study. Mean concentrations of the estrone and 17β-estradiol were 55.1 ng L−1 and 56.1 ng L−1 in groundwater, 32.5 ng g−1 and 23.1 ng g−1 in soil, respectively. The distribution of estrone and 17β-estradiol were similar in groundwater, the concentration in the west of the site center was relatively low, and the surroundings were relatively high. The concentration of estrone was changed less, but 17β-estradiol was significantly increased in silt and silty sand layers in vadose zone profiles. Both estrone and 17β-estradiol concentrations changed abruptly at the interface of layers. Incorporating the temporal and spatial evolution of physical-chemical-biological environmental parameters at the sites, sorption and biodegradation were suggested the controlling roles in the fate and transport of SEs in the soil-groundwater system. The Ecological risk quotients values of both soil and groundwater indicated a very high ecological risk associated with SEs, but the non-carcinogenic harm quotients did not exceed the acceptable level of non-carcinogenic human health risk.

Carcinogenic and Non-carcinogenic Human Health Risk from Exposure to Heavy Metals in Surface Water of Padma River

Carcinogenic and Non-carcinogenic Human Health Risk from Exposure to Heavy Metals in Surface Water of Padma River

A long-term comparative assessment of human health risk to leachate-contaminated groundwater from heavy metal with different liner systems.

The handling and management of municipal solid waste (MSW) are major challenges for solid waste management in developing countries. Open dumping is still the most common waste disposal method in India. However, landfilling also causes various environmental, social, and human health impacts. The generation of heavily polluted leachate is a major concern to public health. Engineered barrier systems (EBSs) are commonly used to restrict potentially harmful wastes by preventing the leachate percolation to groundwater and overflow to surface water bodies. The EBSs are made of natural (e.g., soil, clay) and/or synthetic materials such as polymeric materials (e.g., geomembranes, geosynthetic clay liners) by arranging them in layers. Various studies have estimated the human health risk from leachate-contaminated groundwater. However, no studies have been reported to compare the human health risks, particularly due to the leachate contamination with different liner systems. The present study endeavors to quantify the human health risk to contamination from MSW landfill leachate using multiple simulations for various EBSs. To quantify the variation in health risks to groundwater consumption to the child and adult populations, the Turbhe landfill of Navi Mumbai in India has been selected. The leachate and groundwater samples were collected continuously throughout January-September in 2015 from the landfill site, and heavy metal concentrations were analyzed using an inductively coupled plasma system. The LandSim 2.5 Model, a landfill simulator, was used to simulate the landfill activities for various time slices, and non-carcinogenic human health risk was determined for selected heavy metals. Further, the uncertainties associated with multiple input parameters in the health risk model were quantified under a Monte Carlo simulation framework.

Assessing Carcinogenic and other Health Risks Associated with Consuming a Food Fish, Labeo pseudocoubie, from the Niger-Benue/Imo River Systems, Nigeria

Carcinogenic and other health risks associated with consuming a food fish, Labeo pseudocoubie from the Niger- Benue/Imo River systems was assessed using bioaccumulation of poisonous metals and health indices. Three hundred fish samples of Labeo pseudocoubie were collected from five stations along the Niger-Benue/Imo River Systems of Nigeria to investigate the bioaccumulation of metal, non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic human health risks. The metal concentrations (As, Pb, Cd, Ni, Zn, Hg, Ba, Fe, V, Cu and Cr) were analyzed using the X-ray Fluorescence (XRF) Spectrometer. The non-carcinogenic (estimated daily intake, chronic daily intake and target hazard quotient) and carcinogenic human health risks were calculated for metal concentrations in the fish. The data revealed that the mean bioaccumulation for five (5) metals in L. pseudocoubie from most stations were higher than the permissible limits. The non-carcinogenic human health risk revealed that majority of the metals had values above the daily reference dose for both males and females; while the target hazard quotient revealed that very few metals (3) had concentrations above the level at which obvious health impact may be observed. Furthermore, the carcinogenic human health assessment revealed that nickel and arsenic in all stations, except for arsenic in Station 3, were above the range for relatively negligible cancer risk for both males and females. It is therefore recommended that fish consumers along the Niger- Benue/Imo River Systems should exercise serious caution when consuming fish in these areas due to the possible adverse effects that could ensue.

Spatial distribution of metal(loid)s in groundwater of a mining dominated area: recognising metal(loid) sources and assessing carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic human health risk

ABSTRACTThe study represents the first systematic risk assessment study in East Singhbhum district, Jharkhand, India for the safety of groundwater for drinking purpose with respect to metal(loid)s. The district is known for its mining and related activities. The results demonstrated that concentrations of the metal(loid)s showed significant spatial variation with Al, Mn, Fe, Ni and Zn exceeding the drinking water standards. Principal component analysis resulted in extraction of four factors explaining 76.3% of the data variability. The extracted principal components pointed towards both geogenic and anthropogenic activities governing the groundwater quality. Risk assessment was quantified by the hazard quotient (HQ) and cancer risk for both adult and child. The risk on human health posed by the metal(loid)s was found to be adverse for Mn with HQ > 1 for child. The chronic risks to the local population were largely contributed by Mn, Co and As. However, the carcinogenic risk for As was within the acceptable cancer risk value of 1 × 10−4. Considering the geometric mean of the metal(loid)s in the study area, the hazard index (HI) for adult was above unity. Considering all the locations, the HI varied from 0.23 to 13.03 and 0.20 to 11.15 for adult and child, respectively, suggesting that the groundwater is unsuitable for drinking without treatment at most of the locations.

A Framework for Assessing Uncertainty Associated with Human Health Risks from MSW Landfill Leachate Contamination.

Landfilling is a cost-effective method, which makes it a widely used practice around the world, especially in developing countries. However, because of the improper management of landfills, high leachate leakage can have adverse impacts on soils, plants, groundwater, aquatic organisms, and, subsequently, human health. A comprehensive survey of the literature finds that the probabilistic quantification of uncertainty based on estimations of the human health risks due to landfill leachate contamination has rarely been reported. Hence, in the present study, the uncertainty about the human health risks from municipal solid waste landfill leachate contamination to children and adults was quantified to investigate its long-term risks by using a Monte Carlo simulation framework for selected heavy metals. The Turbhe sanitary landfill of Navi Mumbai, India, which was commissioned in the recent past, was selected to understand the fate and transport of heavy metals in leachate. A large residential area is located near the site, which makes the risk assessment problem both crucial and challenging. In this article, an integral approach in the form of a framework has been proposed to quantify the uncertainty that is intrinsic to human health risk estimation. A set of nonparametric cubic splines was fitted to identify the nonlinear seasonal trend in leachate quality parameters. LandSim 2.5, a landfill simulator, was used to simulate the landfill activities for various time slices, and further uncertainty in noncarcinogenic human health risk was estimated using a Monte Carlo simulation followed by univariate and multivariate sensitivity analyses.

Widespread environmental contamination in agricultural soils and human health risk at the vicinity of an oil refinery site

ABSTRACTIn this research, carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic human health risks due to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) were investigated via three exposure pathways: accidental ingestion of soil, dermal contact of soils, and contaminated vegetable ingestion. To determine the contaminant concentrations in soil, samples were collected from areas adjacent to the Tehran oil refinery, located in Shahr-e-Ray city, Iran. Analyses of the samples indicated that the average of PAHs concentration in the soil samples were greater than clean-up level guidelines. Cancer risk of contaminants due to ingestion of cultivated vegetables that are sold in Tehran markets was significant in comparison with other exposure pathways. Moreover, the total cancer risk for 5th percentile, 95 upper confidence limit, and 95th percentile concentration of contaminants were 5.69E-04, 8.78E-02, and 2.13E-01, classifying the site as having a significant cancer risk potential. Furthermore, non-carcinogenic health risk analyses for the contaminants demonstrated hazard index of less than 1. Remediation of the soils is highly recommended to eliminate the potential cancer risks and prevent the contamination of the food chain for approximately 10 million Tehran residents.

Heavy Metals Bioconcentration from Soil to Vegetables and Assessment of Health Risk Caused by Their Ingestion

The present study was undertaken to assess the non-carcinogenic human health risk of heavy metals through the ingestion of locally grown and commonly used vegetables viz. Raphanus sativus (root vegetable), Daucus carota (root vegetable), Benincasa hispida (fruit vegetable) and Brassica campestris leaves (leafy vegetable) in a semi-urbanized area of Haryana state, India. Heavy metal quantification of soil and vegetable samples was done using flame atomic absorption spectrophotometer. Lead, cadmium and nickel concentration in vegetable samples varied in range of 0.12-6.54 mg kg(-1), 0.02-0.67 mg kg(-1) and <0.05-0.41 mg kg(-1), respectively. Cadmium and lead concentration in some vegetable samples exceeded maximum permissible limit given by World Health Organization/Food and Agriculture Organization and Indian standards. Much higher concentrations of Pb (40-190.5 mg kg(-1)), Cd (0.56-9.85 mg kg(-1)) and Ni (3.21-45.87 mg kg(-1)) were reported in corresponding vegetable fields' soils. Correlation analysis revealed the formation of three primary clusters, i.e. Cu-Cd, Cd-Pb and Ni-Zn in vegetable fields' soils further supported by cluster analysis and principal component analysis. Bioconcentration factor revealed that heavy metals' uptake was more by leafy vegetable than root and fruit vegetables. Hazard index of all the vegetables was less than unity; thus, the ingestion of these vegetables is unlikely to pose health risks to the target population.

Impacts of firecracker burning on aerosol chemical characteristics and human health risk levels during the Chinese New Year Celebration in Jinan, China

Measurements for size distribution and chemical components (including water-soluble ions, OC/EC and trace elements) of particles were taken in Jinan, China, during the 2008 Chinese New Year (CNY) to assess the impacts of firecracker burning on aerosol chemical characteristics and human health risk levels. On the eve of the CNY, the widespread burning of firecrackers had a clear contribution to the number concentration of small accumulation mode particles (100–500nm) and PM2.5 mass concentration, with a maximum PM2.5 concentration of 464.02μg/m3. The firecracker activities altered the number size distribution of particles, but had no influence on the mass size distribution of major water-soluble ions. The concentrations of aerosol and most ions peaked in the rush hour of firecracker burning, whereas the peaks of NO3− and NH4+ presented on the day following the burning of firecrackers. K+, SO42− and Cl− composed approximately 62% of the PM2.5 mass, and they existed as KCl and K2SO4 during the firecracker period. However, during the non-firecracker period, organic matter (OM), SO42−, NO3− and NH4+ were the major chemical components of the PM2.5, and major ions were primarily observed as (NH4)2SO4 and NH4NO3. Estimates of non-carcinogenic risk levels to human health showed that the elemental risk levels during the firecracker period were substantially higher than those observed during the non-firecracker period. The total elemental risk levels in Jinan for the three groups (aged 2–6years, 6–12years and ≥70years) were higher than 2 during the firecracker period, indicating that increased pollutant levels emitted from the burning of firecrackers over short periods of time may cause non-carcinogenic human health risks.

Protecting Groundwater Resources at Biosolids Recycling Sites

In developing the national biosolids recycling rule (Title 40 of the Code of Federal Regulation Part 503 or Part 503), the USEPA conducted deterministic risk assessments whose results indicated that the probability of groundwater impairment associated with biosolids recycling was insignificant. Unfortunately, the computational capabilities available for performing risk assessments of pollutant fate and transport at that time were limited. Using recent advances in USEPA risk assessment methodology, the present study evaluates whether the current national biosolids pollutant limits remain protective of groundwater quality. To take advantage of new risk assessment approaches, a computer-based groundwater risk characterization screening tool (RCST) was developed using USEPA's Multimedia, Multi-pathway, Multi-receptor Exposure and Risk Assessment program. The RCST, which generates a noncarcinogenic human health risk estimate (i.e., hazard quotient [HQ] value), has the ability to conduct screening-level risk characterizations. The regulated heavy metals modeled in this study were As, Cd, Ni, Se, and Zn. Results from RCST application to biosolids recycling sites located in Yakima County, Washington, indicated that biosolids could be recycled at rates as high as 90 Mg ha, with no negative human health effects associated with groundwater consumption. Only under unrealistically high biosolids land application rates were public health risks characterized as significant (HQ ≥ 1.0). For example, by increasing the biosolids application rate and pollutant concentrations to 900 Mg ha and 10 times the regulatory limit, respectively, the HQ values varied from 1.4 (Zn) to 324.0 (Se). Since promulgation of Part 503, no verifiable cases of groundwater contamination by regulated biosolids pollutants have been reported.

Groundwater quality protection at biosolids land application sites

Using the United States (US) Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Multimedia, Multi-pathway, Multi-receptor Exposure and Risk Assessment (3MRA) technology, a computer-based biosolids groundwater risk characterization screening tool (RCST) was developed. The RCST, which generates a non-carcinogenic human health risk estimate (i.e., hazard quotient or HQ value), has the ability to conduct screening-level risk-based characterization of potential human risks associated with pollutants released from biosolids land application sites. The HQ is a human health indicator that is equal to the ratio of the pollutant dose (mass of pollutant per unit body weight per time) to the specific pollutant reference dose (Rfd) which, in turn, is a human health benchmark defined by the EPA as a scientific estimate of the daily exposure level. A HQ value equal to or greater than one (1) suggests that the resulting conditions pose an unacceptable risk to human health.The focus of the current study was to evaluate whether the present regulatory limits established for biosolids pollutants (e.g., heavy metals) were sufficiently protective of human health associated with potential groundwater consumption using a new EPA risk assessment tool. Application of the RCST to two biosolids land application sites located near Columbus, Georgia predicted that, when the depth to groundwater was maintained at a distance of at least 2 m, regulated pollutant concentrations as large as ten (10) times the current regulatory limit (i.e., Title 40 of the US Code of Federal Regulations Part 503 – Ceiling Concentration Limit) could be safely land applied at rates as high as ninety (90) Megagrams per hectare (Mg ha−1) with no apparent non-carcinogenic human health effects associated with groundwater consumption. At these pollutant concentrations, the HQ ranged from 1.79 × 10−9 for cadmium to 3.03 × 10−3 for selenium.Only under unrealistically high biosolids application rates were the public health risks associated with groundwater impairment characterized as significant (HQ ≥ 1.0). For example, when the biosolids application rate was increased to 450 Megagrams per hectare (Mg ha−1) and the pollutant concentrations were increased to ten times the 40 CFR Part 503 Ceiling Concentration Limit, a HQ value of 2.23 was estimated (selenium). Similarly, when the biosolids application rate was increased to 900 Mg ha−1 and the pollutant concentrations were increased to ten times the regulatory limit, the HQ ranged varied from 1.4 (for zinc) to 324.0 (for selenium).

Residues, source identification, and risk assessment of DDTs in surface water from Lake Chaohu

2009年8月采集了巢湖河流及湖泊表层水体共15个样点,利用固相萃取-气相色谱-电子捕获检测器(SPE-GC-ECD)方法测定滴滴涕类(DDTs)农药的含量,分析了其残留特征、来源及风险.结果表明:1)巢湖丰水期DDTs含量范围为1.52-21.79ng/L,平均含量为9.98±4.73ng/L.2)DDT残留主要来自历史上工业DDTs农药的残留和其他o,p'-DDT/p,p'-DDT值较高的农药(如三氯杀螨醇)的使用,东部水源区主要是厌氧条件.3)物种敏感性分布评估模型(SSD)得到的全部物种的风险为8.3×10^-15-2.1×10^-18,各样点生态风险很小;DDT对所有物种、脊椎动物、无脊椎动物、鱼类、甲壳类和昆虫与蜘蛛的安全阈值分别为1.51、1.91、1.26、0.83、1.70和1.51;5%的水生生物物种受到影响时DDT超过毒性值的风险概率为24.5%,对脊椎动物、无脊椎动物、鱼类、甲壳类和昆虫与蜘蛛类的风险概率分别为15.6%、31.9%、17.5%、46.9%和18.7%.三种风险评价方式得到一致的结果,即巢湖DDT对无脊椎动物(如甲壳类)的生态风险大,而对脊椎动物(如鱼类)的生态风险小.4)用巢湖水饮用或者洗浴时,DDTs致癌风险均在百万分之一以下,风险很小;非致癌风险值均远远小于1,不会对人体产生明显非致癌健康危害.;The contents of diehloro diphenyl triehloroethanes(DDTs) in surface water from fifteen sampling sites in Lake Chaohu were meusured by solid phase extraction-gas chromatograph-electron capture detecmr(SPE-GC-ECD).The DDTs residues, possible sources.as well as potential ecological and health risks were analyzed. The following results were obtained:1) the average content in the lake water was 9.98±4.73 ng/L, witIl the range of 1.52-21.79 ng/L.2) The sources of DDT were mainly from historical usage of technical DDTs pesticides and recent usage of other pesticides with larger ratio of o,p'-DDT to p,p'-DDT(such as dicofol).The eastern water source area was mainly under anaembie conditions.3) The water ecological risk to all species at various sample sites by Species sensitivity distribution(SSD) model was very low with the range of 8.3×10^-15-2.1×10^-8.Marsin of safety(MOSl0) of DDT for invertebrates, fish, crustaceans, and insects & spiders Was 24.5%, 15.6%, 31.9%, 17.5%, 46.9% and 18.7%, respectively. The risk assessment results by three methods were with good agreement, showing that the ecological risk of DDT to invertebrates(e. g. Crustaceans) was higherthan thatto vertebrates(e. g. fish), and that the DDT ecological risk was very low in Lake Chaohu.4)DDTs' carcinogenic risk was lower than 10^-6.and its non-carcinogenic risk was far less than 1, implying that it would not cause significant carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic human health risk when using the lake water as drinking and bathing.