Non-carcinogenic Risk Research Articles

Phthalate Esters in Water and Surface Sediments of Anambra River in Dry Season: Distribution and Human Health Risks Assessment

This study investigated phthalate ester (PAE) contamination in water and sediment samples due to their persistence and potential health risks as endocrine disruptors. Sediment analysis revealed pH ranged from 5.35 to 6.72, with total organic carbon (TOC) levels varying between 0.74% and 2.56%. Water pH values were within WHO guidelines (5.5–8.5), and turbidity levels ranged from 0.60 to 1.40 NTU. Phthalate concentrations in sediment revealed Monobutyl phthalate (MBP), Diethyl phthalate (DEP), Dipentyl phthalate (DPP), Butyl benzyl phthalate (BBP), Dibutyl phthalate (DBP), and Di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP). Sample SA exhibited the highest levels of MBP (0.40 mg/kg) and DEP (0.93 mg/kg). In water samples, MBP peaked at 0.01 mg/kg, while DEP reached 0.03 mg/kg, with DBP (0.07 mg/kg) and DEHP (0.08 mg/kg) also detected. Phthalate contamination in water remained below harmful thresholds. A health risk assessment calculated Chronic Daily Intake (CDI) and Hazard Quotients (HQ) for both children and adults. CDI results indicated higher risks for children, with DBP (2.20E-06 mg/kg/day) and DEHP (2.46E-06 mg/kg/day) showing the greatest concern. The HQ for children was highest for DBP (0.22), though still below the risk threshold. Adults exhibited lower CDI and HQ values, with minimal non-carcinogenic risk. These findings highlight the need for continued monitoring of phthalate pollution, especially given children’s heightened vulnerability.

Occurrence of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances in drinking water in China and health risk assessment based on a probabilistic approach

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) raise concerns due to their widespread distribution, persistence, and toxicity to humans. Current studies lack the use of exposure parameters for Chinese populations and probabilistic risk assessment (PRA) to assess health risks of PFASs. To provide a scientific basis for the standards of PFASs in drinking water in China, data on concentrations of nine PFASs in 649 drinking water samples were collected from China through literature review. The highest concentration of PFASs was 17.41 ± 20.06 ng/L for perfluorobutyric acid (PFBA). Higher concentrations of PFASs were found in the southeastern coastal and in Sichuan Province. The probability of exceeding the standardized limits for drinking water for PFOA and PFOS was 2.71 % and 0.91 %. PRA and deterministic risk assessment (DRA) were used to assess non-carcinogenic risks in different age groups and provinces. Health risks of PFASs from oral exposure notably exceeded dermal contact. The Hazard Quotient (HQ) for oral exposure to perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) exceeded the acceptable level with a certain probability. The non-carcinogenic risk of exposure to PFASs in drinking water was negligible for the majority of the Chinese population. The study indicates that China should increase research on limits of PFASs in drinking water to reduce the health risks.

Assessing health risks of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in cooked fish using monte carlo simulation: a global review and meta-analysis.

Cooking food at high temperatures can lead to the formation of harmful chemical compounds called polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). The purpose of this study was to conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis to evaluate the concentrations of 16 PAHs in cooked fish using roasting, barbecuing, or grilling techniques. The Monte Carlo simulation method was employed to accurately assess and quantify the uncertainties associated with risk estimation. This study compiled data on PAH levels in cooked fish using gas or charcoal from 57 original published articles in the PubMed, Science Direct, Scopus, Google Scholar, and Web of Science databases between January 1, 2010 to December 30, 2023. The investigation showed that 55.1% of cooked fish was made by grilling, 35.1% by barbecuing, and 9.8% by roasting. Based on the 95th percentile Hazard Quotient (HQ) from fish consumption, the ranking of 8 PAHs was as follows: Benzo[a]pyrene (BaP = 14.10) > Pyrene (Pyr = 0.29) > Fluorene (Flu = 0.23) > Naphthalene (Nap = 0.22) > Fluoranthene (Flrt = 0.12) > Acenaphthene (Ace = 0.11) > Acenaphthylene (Acy = 0.04) > Anthracene (Anth = 0.02). However, the non-carcinogenic risk ratio for other PAH compounds in fish consumption, excluding BaP, was found to be less than one (HQ < 1). The 95th percentile lifetime excess cancer risk (LTCR) values for 8 PAH compounds (BaP (4.35E- 9) > Anth (6.10E- 11) > Flrt (9.35E- 12) > Pyr (7.04E- 12) > Ace (6.56E- 12) > Flu (4.97E- 12) > Nap (4.39E- 12) > Acy (2.57E- 12)) from fish consumption were negligible and can be disregarded (LTCR < 10- 6). Based on the analysis of the findings, it can be concluded that the consumption of cooked fish using various methods worldwide does not present a carcinogenic risk linked to PAHs.

Determining personal exposure to high production volume chemicals (HPVCs) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) with silicone wristbands: A pilot study

High production volume chemicals (HPVCs) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are semi-volatile organic compounds (semi-VOCs) of great environmental concern because of their presence worldwide and health problems resulting from long-term exposure to some of them. It is essential to have robust analytical methods to monitor the concentrations of these compounds not only in environmental samples but also individual exposure. In this pilot study we develop and validate a multiresidue analytical method based on ultrasound-assisted extraction and gas-chromatography mass spectrometry for the simultaneous determination of 56 semi-VOCs using silicone wristbands (SWBs) as personal passive samplers. The developed method provided recoveries between 43% and 114% on sampled SWBs and method detection and quantification limits in the range of 0.1–35 ng/g and 0.3–119 ng/g, respectively. A preliminary study was performed with a small group of adults living in the industrial city of Tarragona (north-eastern Spain) to evaluate the applicability of SWBs for monitoring individual exposure to the studied HPVCs and PAHs. Benzothiazoles, benzenesulfonamides, UV stabilisers and phenolic antioxidants were determined for the first time in SWBs. Phthalates (PAEs), stood out above the rest, accounting for 52% of the total concentrations. Diethylhexyl phthalate was the compound found at the highest concentrations with values between 1.1 and 82 μg/g. Carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic dermal risk assessment was performed for adults and considering two scenarios (low and high). PAHs were the compounds with the highest carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic dermal risk regardless of the exposure scenario. The second family of compounds that contributed the most to the total risk were PAEs but high punctual concentrations of these compounds caused significant differences between exposure scenarios.

Assessment of the potability and carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic health risks of drinking water in rural areas of the Amhara region, Ethiopia

ABSTRACT Drinking water quality has declined due to the increased pollution from industries, agricultural runoff, sewage, and domestic activities. This study evaluated the potability and carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic risk of drinking water in rural areas of the Amhara Region, Ethiopia. Water samples were collected from the drinking water sources of the dwellers, namely developed spring, shallow well, and deep well in January 2022. The collected water samples were analyzed for physicochemical and biological qualities and trace and heavy metal contents. Chronic daily intake (CDI) and hazard quotient (HQ) indices were calculated to assess human health risks associated with heavy metal exposure. The groundwater pollution index (GPI) showed that 100% of the water samples were very highly polluted (GPI &amp;gt;2.5). The HQ values for both children and adults were less than 1. All samples’ total coliform and fecal coliform counts surpassed the recommended limit of 0 cfu/100 mL. The water sources of the study sites were not deemed suitable for drinking as most of the water quality parameters did not meet the national and international drinking water quality standards. There should be immediate treatment of the contaminated water using chlorination, UV treatment, or filtration to save people from waterborne diseases and avoid environmental risks.

Assessment of drinking water quality and identifying pollution sources in a chromite mining region

Water sources near mining regions are often susceptible to contamination from toxic elements. This study employs machine learning (ML) techniques to evaluate drinking water quality and identify pollution sources near a chromite mine in Iran. Human health risks were assessed using both deterministic and probabilistic approaches. Findings revealed that concentrations of calcium (Ca), chromium (Cr), lithium (Li), magnesium (Mg), and sodium (Na) in the water samples exceeded international safety standards. The Unweighted Root Mean Square water quality index (RMS-WQI) and Weighted Quadratic Mean (WQM-WQI) categorized all water samples as 'Fair', with average scores of 67.95 and 67.19, respectively. Of the ML models tested, the Extra Trees (ET) algorithm emerged as the top predictor of WQI, with Mg and strontium (Sr) as key variables influencing the scores. Principal component analysis (PCA) identified three distinct clusters of water quality parameters, highlighting influences from both local geology and anthropogenic activities. The highest average hazard quotient (HQ) for Cr was 1.71 for children, 1.27 for adolescents, and 1.05 for adults. Monte Carlo simulation for health risk assessment indicated median hazard index (HI) of 4.48 for children, 3.58 for teenagers, and 2.98 for adults, all exceeding the acceptable threshold of 1. Total carcinogenic risk (TCR) exceeded the EPA's acceptable level for 99.38 % of children, 98.24 % of teenagers, and 100 % of adults, with arsenic (As) and Cr identified as the main contributors. The study highlights the need for urgent mitigation measures, recommending a 99 % reduction in concentrations of key contaminants to lower both carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic risks to acceptable levels.

Spatial variability, source identification, and partitioning of groundwater constituents in a typical lakeside plain on Yungui Plateau

The fragile ecological balance of lakeside plains on plateau makes groundwater hydrochemical composition highly susceptible to human disturbances. This research investigates a typical plain on Yunnan Plateau to quantitatively identify the potential sources of groundwater pollution in lakeside plains on plateau by combining receptor models with risk assessment models. Receptor models show there are three potential pollution sources for groundwater including water-rock interactions, agricultural pollution, and domestic sewage/manure discharge. Groundwater hydrochemical composition is predominantly shaped by natural water-rock interactions, accounting for an average of 50.12 % of the influence. This is followed by agricultural non-point source pollution, which contributes 10.79 %, and the discharge of domestic sewage and manure, which accounts for 10.61 %. Groundwater in the current plain could pose a minor non-carcinogenic risk for long-term drinking, with the total hazard index (THI) for adults varying between 0.015 and 1.089, and for children between 0.024 and 1.737. Notably, 4.35 % of groundwater samples have a THI exceeding the safe threshold of 1. NO3- (72 %) is the primary contributor to non-carcinogenic risks, accounting for 72 %, trailed by Mn (13 %), NH4+ (9 %), Fe (6 %) and NO2- (1 %). The non-carcinogenic risks are predominantly attributed to agricultural non-point source pollution (71.6 %) and the discharge of domestic sewage and manure (26.9 %). A conceptual model has been developed to encapsulate the dynamics of groundwater quality formation in lakeside plains on plateau. This research will aid residents in safeguarding against groundwater contamination and enhancing agricultural practices in present plain and similar lakeside plain worldwide.

The cadmium content in commercially key species of seafood from Shandong, China: Potential human health risk estimation

Seafood serves as a vital protein source for human nutrition, yet it also significantly contributes to the intake of dietary cadmium. In this study, we measured the cadmium content in 274 samples from 20 species, including fish, shrimp, and bivalves collected across five cities in Shandong province and assessed the associated health risks for local residents with varying consumption habits. The findings revealed a distinct increasing trend in cadmium concentrations from pelagic fish to benthic bivalve species; however, no evidence of biomagnification was observed among the studied species. Health risk assessments indicated that while there were no non-carcinogenic health risks posed by seafood consumption for local residents exposed to cadmium, carcinogen risks exceeded acceptable levels for lifetime cancer risk. Furthermore, children exhibited approximately twice as high risk indices compared to adults. Bivalve consumption emerged as the primary contributor to these health risks.

Spatial heterogeneity of volatile organic compound pollution in a typical industrial park based on multi-point online monitoring: Pollution characteristics, health risks, and priority-controlled species

Emissions from industrial parks are crucial sources of ambient volatile organic compound (VOC) pollution, characterized by high concentrations, complex compositions, dispersed emission sources, and uneven spatial distribution. To better understand and address this issue, it is crucial to analyze the spatial differences in VOC pollution and associated health risks through multi-point monitoring. In this study, we established four online monitoring sites in a typical industrial park in Kaifeng, China. We monitored 115 VOC species and found significant differences in the concentration and chemical composition of total VOCs (TVOCs) among the four sites. Two sites were primarily composed of halohydrocarbons (49.80% and 41.21%), while the other two sites had a higher proportion of aromatics (54.78% and 39.03%). Acetaldehyde was the main contributor to ozone formation potential (OFP) at one site, while toluene was associated with the other three sites. The site with the highest VOC concentration and OFP also showed the highest secondary organic aerosol formation potential (SOAP). In terms of health risk assessment, acrolein posed a non-carcinogenic risk at all sites, but there were disparities in the carcinogenic risk among the four sites. 1,2-Dichloroethane at one site exceeded the definite risk limit, while 1,2-dibromoethane and chloroform were considered probable risk species at another site. Considering both the environmental impact and health risk, we used entropy-weighting to calculate a comprehensive control index (CCI). This index identified 1,2-dichloroethane as the Level Ⅰ controlled pollutant species at two sites, and toluene at the other two sites. This study highlights the spatial heterogeneity in VOC pollution and health risks within the industrial park, providing valuable insights for targeted pollution control strategies.

Source apportionment and health-risk assessment of PM2.5-bound elements in indoor/outdoor residential buildings in Chinese megacities

Particulate matter with a diameter of 2.5 μm or smaller (PM2.5) in indoor environments originates from both indoor and outdoor sources, influencing associated human health risks through different compositions. This study simultaneously collected and analyzed indoor and outdoor PM2.5 samples in three major Chinese megacities—Beijing, Shanghai, and Shenzhen—to characterize PM2.5 sources and assess their health impacts. A total of seven distinct sources, both indoor and outdoor, were identified for PM2.5: indoor activities, metal smelting, industrial activities, soil dust, vehicle emissions, coal combustion, and fuel oil combustion. Indoor activities accounted for approximately 20% of the residential indoor PM2.5, with the remainder predominantly due to outdoor PM2.5 infiltration. The contributions of indoor activities to noncarcinogenic and carcinogenic risks ranged from 3.6% to 28.5%, whereas outdoor PM2.5 sources posing greater health risks. The cumulative noncarcinogenic risks for adults in Beijing, Shanghai, and Shenzhen were 0.99, 1.15, and 0.72, respectively, slightly higher than those for children. The cumulative carcinogenic risks for adults were approximately five times those for children, with values of 6.90 × 10−5, 6.34 × 10−5, and 6.83 × 10−5, respectively, all surpassing the acceptable limit. Noncarcinogenic risks were predominantly attributed to Ni, Co, and Mn, contributing over 80% to the total risk, while Cr was the primary contributor (>89%) to carcinogenic risks. Indoor exposure accounting for over 80% of noncarcinogenic and carcinogenic risks for adults, and exceeding 90% for children. This study provides significant insights into the effective control of PM2.5 pollution and the reduction of health risks from a source perspective.

Elements in Invasive Redclaw Crayfish Cherax quadricarinatus Pose Human Health Risks in the Largest Floodplain System of South Africa

The Australian redclaw crayfish, Cherax quadricarinatus, has been introduced globally for aquacultural purposes, and invasive wild populations have established in several countries. An increase in population growth, has caused several low-income and rural communities to utilise it as an inexpensive protein source. Despite this introduction, limited research has been done on element accumulation, and the risks for human consumption. This study focused on elemental accumulation in C. quadricarinatus from two rivers in the Phongolo River Floodplain (PRF), South Africa. The non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic human health risks associated with its consumption were calculated. The accumulation order in the PRF was Zn > Cu > Pb > Cr > As > Ni > Hg > Cd. Elevated concentrations of As and Hg, as well as As, Cr, and Ni posed non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic risks, respectively. These results highlight that wild populations of C. quadricarinatus not only pose a threat to aquatic ecosystems but also potentially cause human health risks when consumed.

Determining the priority control sources of heavy metals in the roadside soils in a typical industrial city of North China

Heavy metals (HMs) in roadside soils (RS) are closely related to urban ecosystem and human health, but priority control sources and eco-health risks of HMs remain unclear. We explored pollution sources of HMs using positive matrix factorization (PMF), scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive spectroscopy (SEM-EDS), and random forest (RF), and assessed their source-specific eco-health risks. The combination of PMF, SEM-EDS and RF indicated that pollution sources of HMs were coal combustion (27.99%), construction materials (30.15%), and traffic emissions (41.86%). SEM-EDS revealed RS particles were identified by a combination of physical (spherical, porous rounded, crustal flake, crustal rounded and irregular particles) and elemental surface characteristics (O, C, Si, Al, Fe, Ca, Mg, K, Zn, Cu, and Mn). RF highlighted road network density, residential density, and industrial density had significant importance influence on pollution sources. Approximately 72.35% of soil samples were at a low ecological risk with traffic emissions being the major contributor. Non-carcinogenic risks had a minimal effect, but carcinogenic risks were at a cautionary level with coal combustion being the highest contributor. Overall, coal combustion and traffic emissions were regarded as priority control sources of HMs. These findings provided effective guidance for soil pollution prevention and risk control.

Assessing sources of groundwater quality and health risks using graphical, multivariate, and index techniques from a part of Rajasthan, India

Groundwater provides sustainable potable water in developing countries like India. However, contaminated groundwater directly affects human health. The United Nation policy is to provide clean water for all by 2030. Therefore, groundwater samples collected from a part of Rajasthan, India were analysed for chemical parameters to identify the sources of groundwater quality variation and associated health risks. To achieve this objective, a comprehensive approach of entropy water quality index (EWQI), Piper and Gibbs diagrams, ionic ratios (IR), synthetic pollution index (SPI), principal component analysis (PCA), and non-carcinogenic health risk (NHR) methods were used. EWQI revealed that groundwater quality was not fit for drinking in 81.86% of the area due to higher TDS, Na+, , , , and contents, which was statistically significant by ANOVA test. Modified Piper’s diagram identified Ca2+ - , Ca2+ - , Na+- , and Na+ - types in 36.67%, 22.73%, 13.64%, and 27.27% of groundwater samples, respectively. Gibbs diagrams illustrated that 59.09% and 40.81% of groundwater samples fell in the rock and evaporation domains, respectively. Ionic ratios demonstrated that geogenic processes (mineral dissolution, ion exchange, and evaporation) and anthropogenic activities cause groundwater quality degradation. PCA indicated that PC1 has high loadings of TDS, Mg2+, Na+, , and , PC2 shows high loadings of pH and , and PC3 represents high loadings of , K+, and , which was further supported by t-test analysis. SPI revealed that 99.82% of the study area is polluted. NHR values (0.03 to 1.68, 0.02 to 1.29, and 0.03 to 1.30 for children, women, and men, respectively) showed that long-term exposure to and -containing drinking water poses a higher health risk to children compared to men and women. Regular water quality monitoring, sanitation facilities, limited application of agrochemicals, etc. were suggested. Such a study would aid environmental public health programs.

Characteristics and health risks assessment of PM2.5-bound heavy metals during winter in urban areas of northern China: A case study in Kaifeng

The health impact of heavy metals in atmospheric PM2.5 has garnered increasingly widespread attention. We have collected PM2.5 samples in a typical city (Kaifeng) within the Central Plains Urban Agglomeration in China during winter and measured the mass concentration of PM2.5-bound heavy metals. The pollution of As and Cr in the urban atmosphere requires significant attention. As PM2.5 concentrations increased, the enrichment factors (EFs) of Mn, Cu, Zn, As, and Pb also rose, suggesting a growing contribution from anthropogenic emissions. The analysis showed that the hazard quotient (HQ) for the non-heating and heating periods (HQ < 1) did not result in a cumulative non-carcinogenic health risk to humans. Regarding carcinogenic effects, As and Cr exhibit significant carcinogenic impacts on both children and adults (ELCR>1 × 10−6), indicating that the carcinogenic risks posed by As and Cr under PM2.5 exposure in Kaifeng could not be overlooked. It was found that industrial and biomass combustion are the primary sources of carcinogenic risk in Kaifeng city. From the non-heating to the heating period, the industrial carcinogenic risk increased from 37.12 % to 43.39 %, while the contribution of biomass burning remained at 25 %. This result was strongly correlated with the high proportions of heavy metal elements such as As, Mn, Pb, and Ni from the metal refinery industry. The results of this study revealed the equally important source of heavy metals, compared to coal combustion in North China Plain. In addition to residential coal combustion, industrial emissions are a major source of PM2.5-bound heavy metals in Kaifeng, contributing significantly to overall air pollution and providing a useful reference to mitigating human health risks in the area.

Levels and risk assessment of dl-PCBs and dioxins in soils surrounded by cement plants from industrial areas of Colombia and Spain

This study investigates the concentrations of 17 PCDD/Fs and 12 dl-PCBs congeners in soil samples collected from industrial areas in Cartagena de Indias (Colombia) and Valencia (Spain). The aim is to assess the characteristic distribution patterns and the potential risk around cement plants within the selected locations, addressing the lack of data on PCDD/Fs and dl-PCBs in soils from the two studied areas. Soil samples were analysed using gas chromatography coupled to high-resolution mass spectrometry (GC-HRMS). The PCDD/Fs concentrations varied from 0.01 pg g−1 dw to 520.43 pg g−1 dw in Colombia and from 0.01 pg g−1 dw to 150.48 pg g−1 dw in Spain. For dl-PCBs, levels ranged from 0.03 pg g−1 dw to 1611.83 pg g−1 dw in Colombia and from 0.06 to 189.64 pg g−1 dw in Spain. Despite the differences observed in concentration terms between the two areas studied, the same pattern of congeners was observed. The hazard index (HI) values for exposure of adults and children in soil were, in overall, smaller than one (HI < 1), while the total cancer risk (TCR) values exceeded the acceptable risk value of 10−6, which indicate probable non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic risks resulting from exposure to PCDD/Fs and dl-PCBs in these areas. The ecological risk was assessed using the Contamination Factor (CF) and the Ecological Risk Index (ERI), revealing significant contamination in the studied areas.

Ecological and health risk assessment of heavy metals in interior dust from college campus.

Contamination of college campus dust with heavy metals and the calculation of their ecological and health risks to the students and staff did not receive much attention except in recent years. This study aims to assess the ecological and human health risks of Cd, Cr, Cu, Pb, and Zn in interior dust of College of Science/University campus. An atomic absorption spectrophotometer was utilized to estimate the samples that were collected from 46 locations of the college campus including: classrooms, offices, and laboratories. The Pb, Cu, Cr and Zn metals in the interior dust of the College of Science pose low potential ecological risk, whereas Cd generates medium potential ecological risk. The gained results showed that the student and staff of the College are exposed to low non-cancerous health risks (HI < 1) caused by Cd, Cr, Cu, Pb, and Zn in interior dust. The total lifetime carcinogenic risks (TLCR) of Cd, Cr, and Pb are within the acceptable safe limit (10-6-10-4). The low non-carcinogenic health risks of Cd, Cr, Cu, Pb, and Zn and that the carcinogenic health risks of Cd, Cr and Pb fall within acceptable safe limits, measured in the interior dust of the campus of the College of Science, does not mean neglecting the continuous assessment of those risks.

Assessment of Ecological and Health Risks of Potentially Toxic Elements in Soil and Plant Under Long-Term Sewage Wastewater Irrigation.

This paper aimed to evaluate the ecological and health risks for some potentially toxic trace elements (PTEs) in agricultural soils irrigated with sewage wastewater for more than 50 years. Therefore, soil and plant samples were collected from 21 sites at sewage wastewater irrigated area and these samples were analyzed for their contents of PTEs i.e. Cd, Cr, Cu, Ni, and Pb. The risks of PTEs pollution in the study area were analyzed using indices such as the individual and comprehensive potential ecological risk indices (Eri and RI, respectively), hazard quotient (HQ), hazard index (HI), and carcinogenic risk (CR) model. The results showed that the PTEs in soil samples ranged from 1.70 to 9.90mg/kg for Cd, from 39.9 to 183.4mg/kg for Cr, from 31.5 to 655.1mg/kg for Cu, from 18.8 to 113.1mg/kg for Ni and from 5.4 to 65.4mg/kg for Pb. The results also demonstrated that the soil samples were characterized by high to very high ecological risk for Cd. According to the health risk assessment, the mean HQ and HI of the PTEs in soil for adults and children were below the risk threshold of 1, indicating no risk for non-carcinogenic health effects. However, the HI of PTEs via plant consumption was > 1, suggesting a non-carcinogenic health risk. The CR for most plant samples was above the acceptable range. These findings may offer helpful information regarding the ecological and human risks related to PTEs exposure in soil and plants irrigated with wastewater under arid conditions.

Distribution patterns, health hazards, and multivariate assessment of contamination sources of As, Pb, Ni, Zn, and Fe in agricultural soils

Soil heavy metal contamination is a worldwide environmental concern that presents considerable risks to ecosystems, agricultural progress, and human health. This study aims to evaluate the potential environmental and health hazards linked to the presence of arsenic (As), lead (Pb), nickel (Ni), zinc (Zn), and iron (Fe) in agricultural soil in Al Majma’ah governorate, Saudi Arabia. The contamination factor (CF), pollutant load index (PLI), chronic daily intake (CDI), hazard index (HI), and total lifetime cancer risk (LCR) were calculated for 34 soil samples. The results from the CF and PLI analysis demonstrate that the examined soil has a low contamination factor and is free from heavy metal pollution. The average CDI values for adults and children exhibited the following descending order: Fe > Zn > Cu > Pb > As. The highest HI values observed in adults ranged from 0.0375 (Fe) to 0.00019 (Zn), but in children, the range was from 0.3497 (Fe) to 0.0018 (Zn). The hazard index values for heavy metal(loid)s (HMs) in the Al Majma’ah area were all below 1.0, suggesting that residents in the area are not exposed to a significant non-carcinogenic risk. The LCR values ranged from 8.37E−06 to 7.80E-05 for As in both adults and children, and from 7.50E−08 to 6.98E-07 for Pb. The findings indicated a level of risk that was deemed acceptable or tolerable, without any significant adverse health effects

Unveiling Taro's (Colocasia esculenta) potential as a source of antioxidants and nutritional elements: Industrial impact on quantitative risk assessment of potentially toxic metals accumulation

With rapid industrialization and urbanization, persistent potential toxic elements in the human food chain have become a burning concern to international communities. The present study investigates the potential of an underutilized orphan root crop, Taro (Colocasia esculenta), as a possible source of bioactive compounds –phenolics (180.56-17.66 mg GAE/100g sample) and flavonoids (50.37-21.93 mg QE/100 g sample)–, antioxidants and minerals (Mg: 183.33-75, P: 203-73, Ca: 740-46 and Na: 393-133.33 mg/kg) to promote its utilization in food industries. In addition, this study estimated the levels of potential toxic metals in corm samples collected from industrially active: Jute industry sites (JTS), Textile sites (TXS), Tannery sites (TNS), Chemical industry sites (CMS), Feed industry sites (FDS), and inactive: Residential site (RDS) regions of Jashore, Bangladesh and assessed the associated human health risks. ICP-OES was used to analyze the samples, and the probable human health risk was evaluated using the estimated Hazard Index (HI) and Lifetime cancer risk (LcR). The concentration of the studied toxic metals, such as Cr, Cd, and Pb, and potentially toxic metals, such as Zn, Ni, Fe, Cu, and Mn, ranged as 1.8-19.33, ND, ND-6.33, 3.23-146.67, ND-29.16, 5.43-3583.33, 4.43-266.67, and 0.45-7.3 in taro corm samples and 2.76-42.33, ND-1.26, ND-153.33, 3.27-163.33, 32.67-55.67, 436.67-7666.67, 1.47-9.47, and 4.16-213.33 mg/kg, respectively, in the associated soil samples. HI values greater than unity in RDS, JTS, FDS, TNS, and CMS indicated the associated non-carcinogenic risk to adults. In addition, LcR showed that all the samples pose an associated cancer risk. Furthermore, multivariate analysis revealed three principal components explaining 86.69 % of the total variance, while there were two significant clusters of the taro samples. Overall, this study demonstrated the potential of taro corms as a valuable source of advantageous phytochemicals while confirming the effect of industrialization on the accumulation of potentially toxic metals and their phytochemicals. This study underscores the necessity of continuous monitoring by regulatory authorities to prevent metal deposition in farmlands from industrialization and urbanization through sewage, agrochemicals, and industrial wastewater to avoid adverse health consequences.

Risk assessment of dietary perchlorate exposure in typical areas of fireworks manufacturing in China using a perchlorate intake model

Perchlorate can disrupt the production of thyroid hormones, impact metabolism, and even affect the cognitive development of infants and toddlers. Typical areas of fireworks manufacturing might face severe perchlorate pollution due to perchlorate is an important raw material. But related study has not been reported. We assess the risk caused by perchlorate and identify the critical exposure pathways for different age/gender groups in typical area of fireworks manufacturing. Liuyang city, a major fireworks manufacturing center in China, was selected as study region. Perchlorate concentrations were measured in 230 local food samples from Liuyang using LC/MS/MS. Risks for different age/gender groups were estimated using a perchlorate intake model. The detection rate of perchlorate in samples from all eight food groups, including vegetables, fruits, meat, seafood, egg, cereal, beans, and drinking water was 100%, and the perchlorate concentrations were higher than those reported in the United States, Canada, South Korea, Kuwait, and other regions of China. Liuyang residents are currently facing an extremely high perchlorate dietary exposure risk, with the mean Estimated Daily Intakes (EDIs) approximately 6–49 times higher than US EPA's recommended reference dose (RfD, 0.7 μg/kg bw/day), and 14–115 times higher than the tolerable daily intake (TDI, 0.3 μg/kg bw/day) established by EFSA. Breast milk and drinking water are identified as the primary exposure pathways for infants and toddlers under the age of two, contributing 44–86% and 13–41% to their total exposure, respectively. For individuals > two years, vegetable consumption (constituting 54–66% of exposures) and ingestion of drinking water (constituting 23–32% of exposures) represent the chief exposure routes. The Hazard Quotient (HQ) values for Liuyang City residents all exceed 2, indicating an extremely high non-carcinogenic risk associated with perchlorate. Scientific and systematic perchlorate pollution control measures should be taken by local government.