Risk Assessment Of Trace Elements Research Articles

Distribution, source identification, water quality, and risk assessment of trace elements in the surface-groundwater-sediments multifunctional system in Guohe River Basin

Within the Huaihe River Basin, Guohe River, as its second-largest tributary, serves as a critical water supply source. Recent industrial and agricultural advancements have led to increased trace element contamination, adversely impacting the water quality within Guohe River Basin. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the distribution characteristics, sources, water quality and risk assessment of trace elements in the surface water, groundwater, and sediments across the basin. The results showed that the spatial distribution of trace elements in the surface water and groundwater of Guohe River Basin was that most of the high concentrations appeared in Qiaocheng District of Bozhou City, the mean concentration of Fe in Guohe River sediments was the highest, the mean concentration of Sb was the lowest. The PMF source analysis results showed that the main source of trace elements in Guohe River Basin was natural geological processes, followed by human activities. The sodium adsorption ratio (SAR) indicated that the surface water samples of Guohe River in two seasons had high sodium and salinity hazards. The water quality index (WQI) showed that surface water and groundwater samples in the northwestern of Guohe River Basin had poor water quality. The results of the risk assessment showed that As and Mn posed great ecological risks to surface water and groundwater, respectively, and that F− was the pollutant with the most potential health risk hazard in the basin. The Geo-accumulation index (Igeo) results showed that Cd, Se and As should be taken seriously as the main contaminants of the sediments in Guohe River Basin. KeywardsTrace elements; Source analysis; Sodium adsorption ratio; Water quality index; Risk assessment; Geo-accumulation index.

Migration Patterns and Potential Risk Assessment of Trace Elements in the Soil-Plant System in the Production Area of the Chinese Medicinal Herb Scrophularia ningpoensis Hemsl.

Scrophularia ningpoensis Hemsl. holds a prominent place among Chinese medicinal herbs. Assessing the soil-plant system of its origin is crucial for ensuring medication safety. Although some trace elements are essential for the normal functioning of living organisms, exposure to higher concentrations is harmful to humans, so in order to assess the possible health risk of trace elements in the soil-plant system of Scrophularia ningpoensis Hemsl. origin for human assessment, we used non-carcinogenic risk (HI) and carcinogenic risk (CR) for their evaluation. In this paper, the following trace elements were studied in the soil-Scrophularia ningpoensis Hemsl. system: manganese (Mn), iron (Fe), cobalt (Co), zinc (Zn), selenium (Se), molybdenum (Mo), arsenic (As) and lead (Pb). Correlation and structural equation analyses showed that the effect of soil in the root zone on the plant was much greater than the effect of soil in the non-root zone on the plant. The single-factor pollution index (Pi) showed that the soil in the production area of Scrophularia ningpoensis Hemsl. was polluted to a certain extent, notably with Pb showing the highest average Pi values of 0.94 and 0.89 in the non-root and root zones, respectively. Additionally, the Nemerow composite pollution indices (PN) for both zones indicated an alert range. Regarding health risks, exposure to soil in the non-root zone posed higher non-carcinogenic risk (HI) and carcinogenic risk (CR) compared to the root zone, although neither zone presented a significant carcinogenic risk. The potential non-carcinogenic risk (HI) and carcinogenic risk (CR) from consuming Scrophularia ningpoensis Hemsl. leaves and stems were more than ten times higher than that of roots. However, the carcinogenic risk (CR) values for both the soil and plant of interest in the soil- Scrophularia ningpoensis Hemsl. system did not exceed 10-4, and therefore no significant carcinogenic risk existed.

Distribution and human health risk assessment of trace elements in the bivalve Polymesoda erosa from mangroves on Hainan Island, China

Distributions and potential health risks of 14 trace elements in Polymesoda erosa from four mangrove wetlands on Hainan Island, China, were investigated. Concentrations (µg⋅g−1 d.w.) in P. erosa soft tissue decreased from Fe (935) > Al (642) > Zn (254) > Mn (44.1) > Sr (36.2) > Ni (13.5) > Cu (8.16) > As (4.54) > Se (3.06) > Cr (1.46) > Sn (0.63) > Pb (0.58) > Cd (0.44) > Hg (0.11), and tissue concentrations differed significantly among wetlands. Al, Fe, Cd, and Se contents were highest in P. erosa muscle from the estuary (S1-B); whereas, Cu, Zn, and Sn contents were highest in P. erosa muscle near the port. The average daily trace element dose for children and adults was acceptable and non-carcinogenic risks were not evident. For children and adults, carcinogenic risks posed by trace elements at the median percentile were 11.6- and 7.84-times higher than the acceptable level (10−4), respectively. The maximum allowable consumption rate and monthly meals highlighted the necessity to reduce trace elements exposure in most sampled regions, with the lowest values at the estuary site. The findings suggest a high risk of consuming P. erosa from inner bay of Dongzhai Harbor.

Bioaccumulation and health risk assessment of trace elements in Tilapia (Oreochromis mossambicus) from selected inland water bodies.

The presence of toxic trace elements (TEs) has resulted in a worldwide deterioration in freshwater ecosystem quality. This study aimed to analyze the distribution of TEs, including chromium (Cr), nickel (Ni), arsenic (As), mercury (Hg), cadmium (Cd), and lead (Pb), in water, sediment, and organs of Tilapia (Oreochromis mossambicus) collected from selected inland water bodies in Tamil Nadu, India. The water samples exhibited a range of concentrations for TEs: Cr varied from 0.014 to 5.193µg/L, Ni ranged from 0.283 to 11.133µg/L, As ranged from 0.503 to 1.519µg/L, Cd from 0.001 to 0.616µg/L, and Pb ranged from non-detectable (ND) to 6.103µg/L. The concentrations of TEs in sediment were found to vary within the following ranges: 5.259 to 32.621mg/kg for Cr, 1.932 to 30.487mg/kg for Ni, 0.129 to 0.563mg/kg for As, 0.003 to 0.011mg/kg for Cd, ND to 0.003mg/kg for Hg, and 0.404 to 1.575mg/kg for Pb. The study found that the accumulation pattern of TE in fishes across all selected areas was liver > bone > gill > muscle. The organs had TE concentrations of Cr (ND-0.769mg/kg), Ni (ND-1.053mg/kg), As (0.002-0.080mg/kg), Pb (ND-0.411mg/kg), and Hg (ND-0.067mg/kg), which was below the maximum residual limit prescribed by EC and FSSAI. The bioconcentration factor (BCF) of TEs exhibited a greater magnitude in comparison with the biota-sediment accumulation factor due to the higher concentration of TEs in fish and lower level in water. The assessment of both carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic risks suggests that the consumption of Tilapia from the study region does not pose any significant risks.

Risk assessment of trace elements in vegetables grown in river Yamuna floodplain in Delhi.

Urban agriculture is common in fertile river floodplains of many developing countries. However, there is a risk of contamination in highly polluted regions. This study quantifies health risks associated with the consumption of vegetables grown in the floodplain of the urban river 'Yamuna' in the highly polluted yet data-scarce megacity Delhi, India. Six trace elements are analyzed in five kinds of vegetable samples. Soil samples from the cultivation area are also analyzed for elemental contamination. Ni, Mn, and Co are observed to be higher in leafy vegetables than others. Fruit and inflorescence vegetables are found to have higher concentrations of Cr, Pb, and Zn as compared to root vegetables. Transfer Factor indicates that Cr and Co have the highest and least mobility, respectively. Vegetable Pollution Index indicates that contamination levels follow as Cr > Ni > Pb > Zn. Higher Metal Pollution Index of leafy and inflorescence vegetables than root and fruit vegetables indicate that atmospheric deposition is the predominant source. Principal Component Analysis indicates that Pb and Cr have similar sources and patterns in accumulation. Among the analyzed vegetables, radish may pose a non-carcinogenic risk to the age group of 1-5year. Carcinogenic risk is found to be potentially high due to Ni and Cr accumulation. Consumption of leafy vegetables was found to have relatively less risk than other vegetables due to lower Cr accumulation. Remediation of Cr and Ni in floodplain soil and regular monitoring of elemental contamination is a priority.

Distribution, bioaccumulation, trophic transfer and risk assessment of trace elements in fish from a typical shallow outflow lake basin, China

Distribution, bioaccumulation, trophic transfer and risk assessment of trace elements in fish from a typical shallow outflow lake basin, China

Distribution, ecological, and health risk assessment of trace elements in the surface seawater along the littoral of Tangier Bay (Southwestern Mediterranean Sea)

In the current study, an environmental assessment of surface seawater in Tangier Bay was conducted by analyzing physicochemical parameters and trace elements, such as As, Cr, Zn, Cd, Pb, and Cu. The results showed mean concentrations (μg/l) of 22.50 for As, 0.46 for Cr, 8.57 for Zn, 15.41 for Cd, 0.23 for Pb, and 1.83 for Cu. While most trace elements met the guidelines, elevated levels of Cd raised concerns about long-term exposure. Pollution indices, including the contamination factor, degree of contamination, and water quality index, indicate the impact of human activities, dividing sites into arsenic‐cadmium contamination, wastewater influence, and low pollution levels. Statistical methods, such as ANOVA, revealed no significant differences in trace element levels across the bay. PCA and HCA revealed that Cr, Cu, and Zn originated from common anthropogenic sources, whereas Pb and Cd originated from distinct sources. As indicates that natural geological processes influence its origin.

Chemical Speciation, Leaching Behavior, and Environmental Risk Assessment of Trace Elements in the Bottom Ash from Biomass Power Plant.

Biomass combustion for power generation stands as a pivotal method in energy utilization, offering a promising approach for renewable energy utilization. However, the substantial volume of slag produced by biomass burning plants poses environmental challenges, impeding sustainable energy practices. This article systematically studies the characteristics of ash generated from typical biomass direct combustion power plant ash and analyzes the chemical composition, trace element content characteristics, leaching characteristics, and chemical forms of biomass bottom ash. Furthermore, it assesses the environmental ecology and bioavailability of trace elements in bottom ash using the ecological risk assessment method and RAC method. The results demonstrate that the biomass bottom ash contains plant nutrients, such as K, Ca, Mg, and P, while the content of harmful trace elements is lower than the relevant Chinese standards. In dissolution experiments, the leaching rate of nearly all elements remains exceptionally low, primarily due to the distribution of trace elements within the lattice structure of stable minerals. Trace elements predominantly exist in the residual phase, Cu and Zn primarily found in organic compounds and sulfide bound states, while other elements mostly exist in the form of iron manganese oxide bound states. Ecological risk assessment indicates a significant risk level for Cd, contrasting with the slight risk associated with other elements. RAC results indicated no ecological risk of all of the trace elements. Consequently, the utilization of bottom ash in agricultural and forestry soils is deemed to be viable. These findings serve as a crucial foundation for biomass bottom ash resource utilization and underpin the sustainable utilization of biomass energy.

Quality and health risk assessment of trace elements in groundwater within the Vea catchment of the Upper East Region, Ghana

Quality and health risk assessment of trace elements in groundwater within the Vea catchment of the Upper East Region, Ghana

Spatial variation and potential ecological risk assessment of trace elements in the sediments of Chaohu Lake in China

Chaohu is a large freshwater lake. It plays an essential part in agriculture, life, and part of the industry. This study analyzed the heavy metals contents of copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), cadmium (Cd), mercury (Hg), arsenic (As), chromium (Cr), nickel (Ni), and lead (Pb) in sediments of the Chaohu Lake using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. The distribution of some potential hazardous trace element in Chaohu Lake in the order as Zn (44.04 mg kg−1)>Cu (28.62 mg kg−1)>Cr (27.39 mg kg−1)>Pb (16.71 mg kg−1)≈Ni (16.22 mg kg−1)>As (5.89 mg kg−1)>Cd (0.14 mg kg−1)>Hg (0.04 mg kg−1). The results indicated that the selected heavy metals in the lake were practically uncontaminated, and the levels of selected potential hazardous elements varied from different sampling sites. Correlation analysis indicated that the selected potential hazardous element pollutant has co-contamination also occurs in sediments. However, in the center of Chaohu Lake, the primary contributor to the ecological risk was Cd (41%) and Hg (40%). Based on the PERI, the total potential ecological risk of selected heavy metals in the sediments of Chaohu Lake was light-contaminated.

Occurrence, toxicity load, pollution index and health risk assessment of trace elements in drinking water of two catchments in North-western Himalayas

ABSTRACT The study focuses on the analysis of trace metals in drinking water from the Ganderbal and Budgam districts of Jammu and Kashmir. We have used high-resolution inductively-coupled plasma mass spectrometry (HR-ICP-MS) to measure the concentrations of 31 trace metals in the water samples. The measured concentrations were then compared with the permissible limits set by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA), Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS), and World Health Organization (WHO). The results of the study indicate that arithmetic mean of several trace elements, including aluminum (Al = 781), chromium (Cr = 139), manganese (Mn = 41.86), nickel (Ni = 25.89), molybdenum (Mo = 1.30), cadmium (Cd = 36.86), and mercury (Hg = 67.65), in µg l−1 were found to have concentrations higher than their respective permissible limits. On the other hand, the arithmetic mean of elements, such as beryllium (Be = 0.14), boron (B = 32.72), iron (Fe = 233), cobalt (Co = 1.79), copper (Cu = 10.71), arsenic (As = 0.93), selenium (Se = 3.13), strontium (Sr = 257), zinc (Zn = 43), antimony (Sb = 1.44), barium (Ba = 28.56), gold (Au = 0.91), and lead (Pb = 0.91) in µg l−1, had concentrations below the permissible limits recommended by USEPA, BIS, and WHO. To assess the toxicity of the heavy metals in the study area, we calculated the Heavy Metal Toxicity Load (HMTL) for each metal. Based on these calculations, we concluded that only cadmium (Cd) and chromium (Cr) need to be removed from drinking water to ensure safety. The study also conducted a health risk assessment for children and adults based on the measured concentrations of heavy metals. The assessment considered the ingestion and dermal contact routes of exposure. The Hazard Index (HI), which indicates the non-carcinogenic health effects, exceeded unity for only one element, cadmium (Cd), in the children and adult groups. This suggests potential non-carcinogenic health risks associated with the ingestion of water and dermal contact. Additionally, the potential carcinogenic risk of cadmium (Cd) and arsenic (As) was identified and recommended for further attention. The study further evaluated the Heavy Metal Pollution Index (HPI) to assess the overall quality of drinking water in the study area. The HPI results indicated that the quality of drinking water was good, and the pollution levels in the study area were low. Overall, the findings of this study provide valuable information for water resource development and supply agencies. The results can be used as a baseline for future research and monitoring efforts in the region.

Human health risk assessment of trace elements in commonly consumed herbs in Ibadan, Nigeria

Elemental contamination of medicinal herbs is a major barrier to its general use. This study assessed the concentrations and health risks of Manganese, Iron, Copper, Zinc, Chromium, Cadmium, Cobalt, Nickel, Lead and Selenium via consumption of commonly sold medicinal herbs in Ibadan, Nigeria. Exactly 180 medicinal herb samples, purchased from 10 markets across Ibadan, were digested using aqua-regia. Quantification via Inductively Coupled Plasma-Optical Emission Spectrometry (ICP–OES) was done and validated via recovery (99.6–101%) and linearity (R2 > 0.999) procedures. The health risk associated with the consumption of medicinal herbs was estimated as Chronic Daily Intake (CDI), Hazard Quotient (HQ), Hazard Index (HI) and Target Carcinogenic Risk (TCR). The concentrations (mg kg-1) of Iron, Manganese, Copper, Zinc, Chromium, Selenium and Cobalt ranged from 65.4 to 369, 32.7–184, 17.0–96.0, 36.1–203, 5.41–30.5, 0.028–0.159 and 0.675–3.81 respectively. The average concentrations of Iron, Copper, Zinc and Chromium exceeded the WHO permissible limits. Although some elemental HQ values <1, all medicinal herbs had HI values > 1. Likewise, TCR values exceeded the 1 × 10–4 USEPA limit for cancer suggesting that consumption of these medicinal herbs is not safe for both adults and children.

Health risk assessment of trace elements (Pb, Cd, Cu, Fe) in agricultural soil in Kerman City, Southeast of Iran

Health risk assessment of trace elements (Pb, Cd, Cu, Fe) in agricultural soil in Kerman City, Southeast of Iran

Human health risk assessment of trace elements in PM10 for industrial areas in Gujarat

Introduction: The present study examines human exposure to Particulate Matter (PM10) and analyses potential health concerns in the industrial zones of Ankleshwar and Vapi in Gujarat.&#x0D; Materials and methods: For Ankleshwar and Vapi, 120 samples were collected, and characterisation was carried out to determine the concentration of NO3, SO4, NH3, K-S, Na, EC, OC, Al, Si, Fe, K, Ti, Ni, Br, Ca, Cl, Mn, Pb, Cr, Zn, S, V, and Cu in PM10 mass. The health risk from exposure to different trace elements, including both carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic, is evaluated for three distinct paths of ingestion, inhalation, and skin contact.&#x0D; Results: The Excess Cancer Risk (ECR) values for Cr and Pb for the ingestion pathway and the carcinogenic risks for Cr, Ni, and Pb for the inhalation pathway are both found to be higher than the minimal permissible threshold (1×10−6) for both children and adults for Ankleshwar and Vapi. However, for Ankleshwar and Vapi, the carcinogenic risks from dermal exposure to Cr and Pb are found to be lower than the permissible limit for both adults and children. It is observed that non-carcinogenic Hazard Index (HI) values for the skin contact and ingestion routes are less than 1 for both children and adults for Ankleshwar and Vapi. While the HI value for the inhalation pathway is found to be larger than the tolerable limit of 1 for both adults and children.&#x0D; Conclusion: For the purpose of creating sustainable cities and improving the health of the urban population, this study will provide a fundamental basis and help the governing authorities design mandatory pollution prevention and control methods, restoration plans, and systematic monitoring programmes.

Corrigendum: Water Sci Technol 1 November 2021; 84 (9): 2578-2590: Contamination and ecological risk assessment of trace elements in sediments of the Anzali Wetland, Northern Iran, Marjan Esmaeilzadeh, Elham Mahmodpor, Somayeh Haghighat, Sara Esmaeilzadeh, Hamide Aliani, Najmeh Yazdanfar, https://dx.doi.org/10.2166/wst.2021.455.

Corrigendum: Water Sci Technol 1 November 2021; 84 (9): 2578-2590: Contamination and ecological risk assessment of trace elements in sediments of the Anzali Wetland, Northern Iran, Marjan Esmaeilzadeh, Elham Mahmodpor, Somayeh Haghighat, Sara Esmaeilzadeh, Hamide Aliani, Najmeh Yazdanfar, https://dx.doi.org/10.2166/wst.2021.455.

Spatial-temporal distribution, source identification, risk assessment and water quality assessment of trace elements in the surface water of typical tributary in Yangtze River delta, China

As China's first cross-province ecological compensation mechanism pilot area in the hinterland of the Yangtze River Delta, Xin'an River has been hotspot in the study of rational utilization of ecological resources, and the functional value of its ecosystem services has been widely concerned. As an important tributary of the upper reaches of Xin'an River, Fengle River may affect the whole basin. The spatial-temporal distributions, occurrence, water quality and risk assessment of trace elements were studied in Fengle River in three seasons. High element concentrations were found in the downstream. Traceability models results showed that the major sources of trace elements were related to different human activities. The water quality was worse downstream in the wet season, and was more suitable for irrigation in the dry season. Risk assessment results showed that Zn, Cu, Mn, Co, and As were able to pose the risk to the ecological environment and human.

Seasonal variations and health risk assessment of trace elements in the Badigad River, lesser Himalayas, Nepal

Seasonal variations and health risk assessment of trace elements in the Badigad River, lesser Himalayas, Nepal

Effects of Culinary Procedures on Concentrations and Bioaccessibility of Cu, Zn, and As in Different Food Ingredients.

Although cooked diets are the primary sources for humans to absorb trace elements, there is limited data available on the concentrations and bioaccessibility of trace elements in cooked food ingredients. This work aims to evaluate the effects of culinary procedures on the concentrations and bioaccessibility of trace elements in common food ingredients. Twelve food species from the local market were treated with four culinary procedures (boiling, steaming, baking, and frying), then the bioaccessibility of copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), and arsenic (As) were evaluated using the in vitro digestion method. The subcellular distribution of these elements was also determined using the sequential fractionation method. The results show that culinary procedures decreased the retention rate of As during cooking (100% for raw and 65-89% for cooked ingredients) and the bioaccessibility of Cu and Zn during digestion (nearly 75% for raw and 49-65% for cooked ingredients), resulting in a reduction of the total bioaccessible fraction (TBF) of Cu, Zn, and As in food ingredients. The TBF of Cu, Zn, and As in all tested food ingredients followed the order: raw (76-80%) > steaming and baking (50-62%) > boiling and frying (41-50%). The effects of culinary procedures were associated with the subcellular distribution of trace elements. As was dominantly distributed in heat-stable proteins (51-71%), which were more likely to be lost during cooking. In comparison, Cu and Zn were mainly bound to the insoluble fraction and heat-denatured proteins (60-89% and 61-94% for Cu and Zn, respectively), which become less digestible in cooked ingredients. In conclusion, these results suggest that culinary procedures reduce the absorption of Cu, Zn, and As in various food ingredients, which should be considered in the coming studies related to nutrition and risk assessment of trace elements.

Health risk assessment of trace elements in the Tonle Sap Great Lake and the Tonle Sap River in Cambodia during the rainy season.

To investigate the potential health risk of trace elements in the Tonle Sap Great Lake system, lake (n = 37) and river (n = 14) water samples were collected and analyzed for 19 trace elements (Ag, Al, As, B, Ba, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Ga, Mn, Mo, Ni, Pb, Se, Tl, U and Zn) using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. As a result, Cd was not detected in any river and lake water samples. Al, Fe and Mn in lake water exceeded the regulation limits of Cambodia, USEPA and WHO. Health risk assessment using the USEPA model indicated that male and female Cambodian residents are at minimal risk of non-carcinogenic effects from single and mixed trace elements through lake and river water consumption. Nevertheless, As, Tl, Co, Ba, Mn and Cr might pose high potential health risks to consumers which requires more attention. Therefore, regular monitoring and further studies are required to investigate the pollution trends and toxic behavior of these trace elements in the Tonle Sap Great Lake system.

Ecological risk assessment of trace elements (TEs) pollution and human health risk exposure in agricultural soils used for saffron cultivation

Contamination of farmland soils by trace elements (TEs) has become an international issue concerning food safety and human health risks. In the present research, the concentrations of TEs including cadmium (Cd), cobalt (Co), chromium (Cr), copper (Cu), manganese (Mn), nickel (Ni), lead (Pb), zinc (Zn) and iron (Fe) in soils of 16 farmlands were determined in Gonabad, Iran. In addition, the human health risks due to exposure to the TEs from the soils were assessed. Moreover, the soil contamination likelihood was evaluated based on various contamination indices including contamination factor (mathrm{CF}), enrichment factor (EF), geo-accumulation index (Igeo), and pollution load index (PLI) calculations. The soil mean concentrations for Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Mn, Ni, Pb, Zn and Fe ranges as 0.102, 6.968, 22.550, 29.263, 475.281, 34.234, 13.617, 54.482 and 19,683.6 mg/kg in farmland soils. The mean concentrations of the TEs decreased in the order of Fe > Mn > Zn > Ni > Cu > Cr > Pb > Co > As > Cd. Levels of all metals in this study were within the FAO/WHO and Iranian soil standards. The HQ values from investigated elements for adults and children in the studied farms were less than the limit of 1, indicating no health risks for the studied subpopulations. The results of the present research indicated no significant carcinogenic health hazards for both adults and children through ingestion, skin contact and inhalation exposure routes. mathrm{CF} values of Ni and Zn in 100% and 6.25% of farmlands were above 1, showing moderate contamination conditions. EF values of metals in farmlands were recorded as “no enrichment”, “minimal enrichment” and “moderate enrichment” classes. Furthermore, it can be concluded that the all farms were uncontaminated except Ni (moderately contaminated) based on Igeo. This is an indication that the selected TEs in the agricultural soils have no appreciable threat to human health.