Health risk assessment of heavy metal pollution in a soil-rice system: a case study in the Jin-Qu Basin of China

Sci Rep. 2020 Jul 13;10(1):11490. doi: 10.1038/s41598-020-68295-6.

Abstract

A regional field survey of a total of 109 pairs of soil and rice samples was conducted to evaluate the health risks posed by heavy metals in the Jin-Qu Basin, China. The studied soils are characterized by acid (pH in mean level of 5.5), carbon rich (soil organic matter in mean of 33.6 g kg-1) and mainly contaminated by Cd (42.2% samples exceeded the standard value of 0.3 mg kg-1 (GB15618-2018)). The spatial distributions of Cd, Pb and Zn exhibited similar geographic trends. 34% and 30% of the rice samples containing Cd and Pb exceeded the threshold value of 0.2 mg kg-1 (GB2762-2017), respectively. The risk estimation of dietary intake had a target hazard quotient value of Cd of 0.918 and a hazard index value for rice consumption of 2.141. Totally, Cd and Pb were found to be the main components contributing to the potential health risks posed by non-carcinogenic effects for local inhabitants.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • China / epidemiology
  • Environmental Monitoring / methods*
  • Environmental Pollution / prevention & control
  • Humans
  • Metals, Heavy / toxicity*
  • Oryza / drug effects
  • Oryza / growth & development
  • Risk Assessment*
  • Soil / chemistry
  • Soil Pollutants / toxicity*

Substances

  • Metals, Heavy
  • Soil
  • Soil Pollutants