Heavy metal contamination in soils and food crops around Dabaoshan mine in Guangdong,China: implication for human health

This study was designed to investigate heavy metal (Cu, Zn, Pb, and Cd) contamination levels of soils, vegetables, and rice grown in the vicinity of the Dabaoshan mine, south China. The concentration of Cu, Zn, Pb, and Cd in paddy soil exceeded the maximum allowable concentrations for Chinese agricultural soil. The heavy metal concentrations (mg kg⁻¹, dry weight basis) in vegetables ranged from 5.0 to 14.3 for Cu, 34.7 to 170 for Zn, 0.90 to 2.23 for Pb, and 0.45 to 4.1 for Cd. The concentrations of Pb and Cd in rice grain exceeded the maximum permissible limits in China. Dietary intake of Pb and Cd through the consumption of rice and certain vegetable exceeded the recommended dietary allowance levels. The status of heavy metal concentrations of food crops grown in the vicinity of Dabaoshan mine and their implications for human health should be further investigated.     

Influence of fertilizer and sewage sludge compost on yield and heavy metal accumulation by lettuce grown in urban soils

Previous research has demonstrated that many urban soils are enriched in Pb, Cd and Zn. Culture of vegetable crops in these soils could allow transfer of potentially toxic metals to foods. Tanya lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) was grown in pots of five urban garden soils and one control agricultural soil to assess the effect of urban-soil metal enrichment, and the effect of soil amendments, on heavy metal uptake by garden vegetables. The amendments included NPK fertilizer, limestone, Ca(H₂PO₄)₂, and two rates of limed sewage sludge compost. Soil Cd ranged from 0.08 to 9.6 mg kg^–1; soil Zn from 38 to 3490 mg kg^–1; and soil Pb from 12 to 5210 mg kg^–1. Lettuce yield on the urban garden soils was as great as or greater than that on the control soil. Lettuce Cd, Zn and Pb concentrations increased from 0.65, 23, and 2.2 mg kg^–1 dry matter in the control soil to as high as 3.53, 422 and 37.0 mg kg^–1 on the metal-rich urban garden soils. Adding limestone or limed sewage sludge compost raised soil pH and significantly reduced lettuce Cd and Zn, while phosphate fertilizer lowered soil pH and had little effect on Zn but increased Cd concentration in lettuce. Urban garden soils caused a significant increase in lettuce leaf Pb concentration, especially on the highest Pb soil. Adding NPK fertilizer, phosphate, or sludge compost to two high Pb soils lowered lettuce Pb concentration, but adding limestone generally did not. On normally fertilized soils, Pb uptake by lettuce was not exceptionally high until soil Pb substantially exceeded 500 mg kg^–1. Comparing garden vegetables and soil as potential sources of Pb risk to children, it is clear that the risk is greater through ingestion of soil or dust than through ingestion of garden vegetables grown on the soil. Urban dwellers should obtain soil metal analyses before selecting garden locations to reduce Pb risk to their children.     

珠江三角洲地区典型菜地土壤与蔬菜重金属分布特征研究

通过对珠江三角洲地区的广州市、佛山市、江门市和惠州市典型菜地土壤和蔬菜中重金属（Pb、Cr、Cd、As和Hg）含量及其土壤中有效态（Pb、Cr、Cd）含量的调查,分析蔬菜重金属污染状况与土壤重金属含量的相关性,探讨了土壤重金属含量、有效态含量与土壤理化性质的相关性。结果表明,菜地土壤主要受Pb、Cd、Hg污染。Pb、Cd主要以轻度污染为主;而Hg污染在广州市菜地土壤以轻度污染和重度污染为主,佛山市菜地土壤以中度污染和重度污染为主,江门市和惠州市菜地土壤以轻度污染为主。蔬菜主要受Pb、Cd、Hg污染,少数蔬菜受到Cr污染,但并未检测出蔬菜受As污染。蔬菜中重金属含量与土壤中Pb、Cr、Cd的总量、有效态含量之间呈显著正相关关系,与土壤中As、Hg的总量无显著相关性。土壤中Pb、Cr含量与土壤有机质含量、黏粒含量、粉粒含量均达到显著相关。土壤中有效Pb与有效锰含量呈显著负相关关系,土壤中有效Cr含量与土壤粘粒含量、有效铁含量呈极显著正相关关系。     

Status of Cadmium Concentration in Soil and Vegetable Irrigated with City Effluent

Cadmium is a toxic and carcinogenic element[1].In the1950s and 1960s,cadmium intoxication was considered to bestrictly an occupational disease.It was not until recognition of thecontribution of cadmium exposure to the etiology of Itai-itai dis-ease.It is …     

Distribution of potentially harmful elements in soils around a large coal-fired power plant

An understanding of the spatial distribution and contribution of a power plant to local soil contamination is important for the planning of soil use and prioritizing remedial actions for public safety. Consequently, the aim of this study was to map the spatial distribution of potentially hazardous elements (PHEs; Cu, Pb, Zn, Ni, Cr, Fe, Mn, Cd, As, and Se) in soils around a large (796 MW) coal-fired power plant in Brazil. For the purpose, 33 soil samples were collected in the area within a radius of approximately 17.5 km from the plant and subsequently analyzed for PHEs. The frequency and direction of winds were also obtained from a meteorological station in the region. The sampling area was divided into four quadrants (northwest: N-NW; northeast: N-NE; southeast: S-SE; southwest: S-SW), and there were significant negative correlations between the distance and the concentrations of Se in the S-SE quadrant and As in the S-SW and S-SE quadrants. There were positive correlations between distance from the plant and the concentration of Mn in the N-NE quadrant and the concentration of Cd in the S-SW quadrant. The dominant direction of the winds was N-NE. The indexes used in this study showed low-to-moderate enrichment factor, but detailed analysis of the dominant quadrant of the winds showed a correlation with higher concentrations in the soils closer to the power plant for at least seven of the PHEs analyzed, especially with regard to As. Therefore, we conclude that the distribution of the metalloid As can be used as a marker of the spatial distribution of contamination from the thermoelectric plant, but the dynamics of the other elements suggests that the presence of other sources of contamination may also compromise the quality of local soils.

     

蔬菜对土壤镉铜锌富集能力的研究

调查了福建部分污染严重地区不同蔬菜对镉、锌、铜的富集能力。结果表明蔬菜对镉的平均富集系数为0.017,锌的平均富集系数为0.116.铜的平均富集系数为0.014。蔬菜对镉的富集系数的品种间差异最大,达315倍,远高于锌和铜的富集系数的品种间差异。茭白、豇豆和莲藕对镉的富集能力较低,可作为镉污染土壤优先选种的蔬菜品种,而青包菜、白包菜、芥菜、空心菜、芋头等对镉的富集系数较高,不宜在镉污染土壤上栽培。     

Effect of biogeochemical interactions on bioaccessibility of arsenic in soils of a former smelter site in Republic of Korea

The total concentration-based regulations for soil remediation do not consider the possible changes in bioaccessibility of remaining arsenic (As) in soils due to biogeochemical interactions after remediation. This study used As-contaminated soil and pore water samples that were collected from the rice paddy and forest/farmland located in the vicinity of a former smelter site in Republic of Korea to elucidate the changes in As bioaccessibility due to biogeochemical interactions. Bioaccessibility and chemical forms of As in soils were determined by using an in vitro method and sequential extraction, respectively, and soil microbial community was evaluated. Bioaccessibility of As in the rice paddy soil samples was higher than that in the forest/farmland soil samples. This could be attributed to relatively higher dependence of bioaccessible As in the rice paddy soils on the soil concentration of iron (Fe), aluminum, or manganese, which could lead to greater changes in bioaccessible As via reductive dissolution. The strong linear relationship (R ² = 0.90, p value ≤0.001) between the pore water As and Fe concentrations, and the greater portion of bacterial species related to reductive dissolution of Fe oxides in the rice paddies can support the higher As bioaccessibility promoted by reductive dissolution. Therefore, it is necessary to consider the potential changes in the bioaccessible As due to biogeochemical interactions in remediation of As-contaminated soils, particularly when soils are likely to be reused under reductive dissolution-promoting conditions (e.g., flooded conditions).     

北京市典型有机设施蔬菜基地重金属污染特征及风险评估

为研究北京市典型有机设施蔬菜基地重金属污染状况,采用野外调查及室内分析法,选取北京市5个有机设施蔬菜基地中125个土壤样品和77个蔬菜样品进行了Pb、Cd、Cr、As和Hg含量的检测、统计分析与评价,对土壤重金属含量与土壤理化指标进行了相关分析,研究了重金属在蔬菜中的迁移规律,并结合美国环保署(US EPA)推荐采用的健康风险评价模型,评价由于蔬菜摄入导致的成人和儿童的健康风险。结果表明,5个设施蔬菜基地中有极少数土壤样本Cd含量超标,有极少数叶菜样本Cr含量超标,其他重金属含量均未超标。污染指数评价表明5个基地土壤重金属污染排序为:基地5基地1基地3基地2基地4,主要由土壤Cd累积所致。土壤重金属与理化性质相关性表明,5种重金属含量都受土壤的理化性质影响较大。总体上,5种重金属在土壤-蔬菜中迁移能力排序为:CdHgAsCrPb,在不同类蔬菜中的富集系数排序为:叶菜类茄果类瓜果类豆菜类。5种重金属造成的目标危害系数大小依次为:CdPbAsHgCr,不同类蔬菜的综合重金属目标危害系数值排序为:叶菜类茄果类瓜果类豆菜类,所有蔬菜单一重金属目标危害系数和复合危害系数都远小于1,说明单一重金属和复合重金属污染对成人和儿童都没有明显的负面健康影响。     

Measurement of metal bioaccessibility in vegetables to improve human exposure assessments: field study of soil–plant–atmosphere transfers in urban areas,South China

The quality of cultivated consumed vegetables in relation to environmental pollution is a crucial issue for urban and peri-urban areas, which host the majority of people at the global scale. In order to evaluate the fate of metals in urban soil–plant–atmosphere systems and their consequences on human exposure, a field study was conducted at two different sites near a waste incinerator (site A) and a highway (site B). Metal concentrations were measured in the soil, settled atmospheric particulate matter (PM) and vegetables. A risk assessment was performed using both total and bioaccessible metal concentrations in vegetables. Total metal concentrations in PM were (mg kg^?1): (site A) 417 Cr, 354 Cu, 931 Zn, 6.3 Cd and 168 Pb; (site B) 145 Cr, 444 Cu, 3289 Zn, 2.9 Cd and 396 Pb. Several total soil Cd and Pb concentrations exceeded China’s Environmental Quality Standards. At both sites, there was significant metal enrichment from the atmosphere to the leafy vegetables (correlation between Pb concentrations in PM and leaves: r = 0.52, p < 0.05) which depended on the plant species. Total Cr, Cd and Pb concentrations in vegetables were therefore above or just under the maximum limit levels for foodstuffs according to Chinese and European Commission regulations. High metal bioaccessibility in the vegetables (60–79 %, with maximum value for Cd) was also observed. The bioaccessible hazard index was only above 1 for site B, due to moderate Pb and Cd pollution from the highway. In contrast, site A was considered as relatively safe for urban agriculture.     

Potentially harmful elements in house dust from Estarreja,Portugal: characterization and genotoxicity of the bioaccessible fraction

Due to their behavioral characteristics, young children are vulnerable to the ingestion of indoor dust, often contaminated with chemicals that are potentially harmful. Exposure to potentially harmful elements (PHEs) is currently exacerbated by their widespread use in several industrial, agricultural, domestic and technological applications. PHEs cause adverse health effects on immune and nervous systems and can lead to cancer development via genotoxic mechanisms. The present study is an integrated approach that aims at assessing the genotoxicity of bioaccessible PHEs following ingestion of contaminated house dust. A multidisciplinary methodology associating chemical characterization of five house dust samples, extraction of the bioaccessible PHEs in gastric extracts by the unified BARGE method, determination of the bioaccessible fraction and in vitro genotoxicity of gastric extracts in adenocarcinoma gastric human (AGS) cells was developed. The five gastric extracts induced dose-dependent genotoxicity in AGS cells. Copper (bioaccessible concentration up to 111 mg/kg) was probably the prevalent PHE inducing primary DNA damage (up to 5.1-fold increase in tail DNA at 0.53 g/l of gastric extract). Lead (bioaccessible concentration up to 245 mg/kg) was the most prevalent PHE inducing chromosome-damaging effects (r = 0.55; p < 0.001 for micronucleated cells induction). The association of principal component analysis and Spearman’s correlations was decisive to understand the chromosome-damaging properties of the bioaccessible PHEs in AGS cells. This methodology could be used on a larger-scale study to provide useful information for science-based decision-making in regulatory policies, and a better estimation of human exposure and associated health risks.     

Metals in agricultural soils and plants in Egypt

Since analysis of both soil and plants are useful to assess contamination of a geographic area, concentrations of five representative metals: copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb), and iron (Fe) in soil and associated plants were measured by atomic absorption spectroscopy. Samples were collected from four different Egyptian regions (El-mehala El-kobra, Kafr El-Sheikh, Kafr El-zayat, and Al-fayoum) during spring and summer 2010. Concentrations of the selected metals in agricultural soils were significantly different among locations and seasons. Concentrations of Cd and Fe in soils at the four locations exceeded the maximum allowable concentrations for Cd (8 mg/kg, dry mass (dm)) and Fe (1000 mg/kg, dm). Accumulation was different for clover and cotton. Clover blossoms grown in soil from Kafr El-zayat contained the greatest concentrations of Cu, Zn, Pb, and Fe. Cotton flowers from El-mehala El-kobra accumulated the highest levels of Cd. Concentrations of Cd and Pb in both clover and cotton flowers from the four locations exceeded maximum allowable concentrations (3 mg/kg, dm) for both Cd and Pb. Using such agricultural soils for cultivation of edible crops for consumption may result in chronic hazards to human health.     

污灌区土壤-小麦系统重金属污染、迁移和积累--以开封市化肥河污灌区为例

以开封市化肥河污灌区为例，研究了土壤-小麦系统重金属(Cd、Pb、Cr、Cu、Zn、Ni和AS)污染、迁移和积累规律。结果表明，该区土壤重金属污染较为严重，所有样点的综合污染指数均大于1，其中Cd和AS污染最为严重，其平均质量分数远远超出了土壤环境二级标准值。在该区土壤上种植的小麦也表现出一定程度的重金属累积，但其茎叶和种子重金属质量分数差别较大；在所有种子样品中，Zn质量分数都未超标，AS、Cr和Pb质量分数部分到达了较高的残留水平，Cd质量分数则远远超出了国家食品限量卫生标准。依据重金属迁移累积率(βi)，小麦对As和Cr的吸收能力较低，而对Ni和Cd的吸收能力较高；在所有小麦样品中，除Cu外，茎叶对同一重金属的平均富集能力均大于种子。     

Determination of total and bioaccessible metals in airborne particulate matter from an urban and a rural area at Sarajevo

Airborne particulate matter of up to 10 µm collected at an urban and a rural area at Sarajevo in 2013 and 2014 was acid digested for determination of total concentrations or extracted with synthetic gastric juice for the bioaccessible fractions of Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb, V, and Zn and determined by graphite furnace and flame atomic absorption spectrometry. The total concentrations of Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Pb, and V were higher at the urban site, while those of Cd, Ni, and Zn were virtually equal at both sites. The average bioaccessible fractions exhibited the following trend at both sites: Fe > Zn > Cu > Mn > Pb > Cr > V > Ni > Cd. Enrichment factors and daily intake of metals by inhalation were calculated.     

广州市菜园土和蔬菜中镉含量水平及污染评价

探讨了广州市各区、市菜园土和蔬菜中的重金属Cd污染状况,测定了95份土壤样品以及292份蔬菜样品中的镉含量,并对广州市各区市菜园土中Cd污染程度进行了评价。研究结果表明,不同种类的蔬菜中,叶菜类对重金属Cd的吸收和富集较高,瓜豆类较低。蔬菜中重金属Cd的含量受土壤中Cd含量的影响。与国内其它城市相比,广州市蔬菜地土壤中的Cd平均含量处于较高水平;蔬菜则以海珠、番禺两区Cd含量相对较高,高于其它城市的含量水平。     

Human bioaccessibility of Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb and Zn in urban soils from the city of Torino, Italy

Several physiologically based extraction procedures have been proposed to estimate the fraction of the potentially toxic element content that would be bioaccessible in the human gastro-intestinal tract following accidental ingestion of soil. Many of these procedures are complex, they have been applied to a very limited range of soils, and most work has focussed on arsenic and lead. In the present study, a simplified, two-stage extraction, simulating the human stomach and intestine, was developed and applied to urban soil samples from ten public-access areas in the City of Torino, Italy. The human oral bioaccessibility of chromium, copper, nickel, lead and zinc was estimated. Lead and zinc bioaccessibilities were found to be higher in the stomach, but chromium was more bioaccessible in the intestine. Analyte concentrations were higher in roadside soils than in soils from parks. A higher proportion of the soil metal content was found in bioaccessible forms at roadsides than in parks. Comparison of the current findings with results of earlier work involving sequential extraction of the same soils indicated that the sequential procedure gave a relative, but not an absolute, indication of bioaccessibility. Calculations based on the bioaccessible analyte concentrations suggest that ingestion of only 2–3 g of some of the roadside soil samples from Torino could deliver the tolerable daily oral intake of chromium, nickel and lead to a 20-kg child. The developed procedure is useful for preliminary screening of soils and prediction of whether their bioaccessible metal contents are likely to pose a risk to human health.     

水作和旱作对叶菜吸收镉的影响差异研究

采用盆栽试验,以适宜水旱2种模式栽培的空心菜（Ipomoea aquatica）为对象,研究了水作和旱作两种栽培模式对Cd污染土壤上空心菜吸收积累Cd的差异及其影响因素。结果表明,水作和旱作对空心菜生物量和Cd质量分数影响显著。水作条件下,空心菜地上部和根系生物量分别比旱作处理增加了16.3%和190.6%,而地上部和根系Cd质量分数则较旱作处理降低了52.2%和49.3%。水作和旱作对土壤pH和DTPA-Cd质量分数也有不同影响,其中种植空心菜的处理土壤pH较旱作处理增加了0.99个单位,土壤DTPA-Cd质量分数降低了40.0%,不种空心菜的处理土壤pH较旱作处理增加了1.48个单位,土壤DTPA-Cd质量分数降低了30.4%。逐步回归分析发现,空心菜地上部Cd质量分数受土壤DTPA-Cd质量分数和土壤pH影响最大。因此,在Cd污染土壤上,通过旱作改水作可降低空心菜可食部分Cd质量分数,是一种环境友好、价格低廉的土壤重金属污染的调控措施。     

Metal contamination of surface soils of industrial city Sialkot,Pakistan: a multivariate and GIS approach

In this study concentrations of selected metals viz., Ca, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, K, Mg, Na, Ni, Pb and Zn in surface soils of Sialkot city known worldwide for tanneries and pharmaceutical industries were measured to assess the status of urban soil pollution and to identify sources of contamination. Hierarchical cluster analysis (HACA) indicated concentrations of Mg and Ca related to parent rock material, Cd, Co, and Pb with traffic related activities, Cr, Cu, Ni and Zn either associated with automobiles activities or industrial pollution and Fe, K and Na related with anthropogenic activities or lithogenous materials. Correlation analyses and principal component analysis based on factor analysis confirmed the results of HACA. Spatial distribution maps exhibited relatively higher concentrations of Cd, Co, Cu, Ni, Pb, Cr and Zn along traffic routes in the city and streams. The results highlighted concentration of Cd, Ni, Cr, Zn, and Pb measured in urban soil exceeded the permissible limit of surface soils and advocated an imperative need for detailed baseline investigations of spatial distribution of heavy metals and other contaminants for the formulation of geochemical database that should be made available to stakeholder involved in monitoring, assessment and conservation of soil contamination for future planning and management of the Sialkot city.     

Concentration of heavy metals in vegetables and potential health risk assessment in China

Food safety is an important issue in the world. This study assessed the health risk for the Chinese public when consuming vegetables grown in China, based on 1335 data records from 220 published papers during 2007–2016. The results showed that the average of Pb, Cd, and Hg concentration in vegetables was 0.106, 0.041, and 0.008 mg/kg, which were lower than the maximum allowable concentrations, respectively. Leaf vegetables contained higher heavy metals than root vegetables and fruit vegetables. On a provincial scale, the highest Pb, Cd, and Hg concentrations in vegetables were determined by those in soil and atmosphere. The total health risk index showed that people in Guizhou, Yunnan, Guangxi, Hunan, Guangdong, Hubei provinces in southern China, and Liaoning Province in northeast China, faced a high risk of Pb, Cd, and Hg when consuming vegetables.     

Heavy metals distribution and risk assessment in soils affected by tannery effluents

Effluents collected from tanneries in Sialkot showed considerably higher levels of heavy metals. Sodium (12 660.91 mg/L) among macronutrients and Cr (592.20 mg/L) among heavy metals were found in the highest concentrations. Effluent parameters, i.e. biological oxygen demand (BOD; 12.40), chemical oxygen demand (COD; 16.53), Cd (5.90), Cr (592.20) and Fe (18.59) were the respective times higher than Pakistan National Environmental Quality Standards and their continuous unchecked discharge into agricultural soils poses a potential risk. Mean concentrations (mg/L) of Cr (592.20), Ni (2.66), Mn (1.16), Fe (37.17), Zn (0.90), Cd (0.59) and Pb (1.18) in this study exceeded levels recorded to date from different tanning hubs in Pakistan. Factor analysis/principal components analysis (FA/PCA) for the effluent parameters resulted in six varimax factors, i.e. VF1 (salinity, electrical conductivity, total dissolved solids, chloride, phosphate, BOD and COD; including characteristic tannery effluent features), VF2 (pH, Cr and alkalinity; tanning operations), VF3 (Cd and Pb; dyeing processes), VF4 (Mn and Fe; finishing operations), VF5 (Ni; retaining processes) and VF6 (hardness, Ca and Cu; bating processes). Cluster analysis performed on metal data resulted in three clusters confirming metal–metal relations obtained either from FA/PCA or a correlation matrix. The results of this study are useful for heavy metal source apportionment, assessment of risk to peripheral soils and the future management of environments around tanneries.     

桂林市土壤和蔬菜镉含量调查及食用安全性评估

对桂林市蔬菜和菜地土壤镉含量进行调查,评价其累积状况,并评估人体经食用蔬菜摄入镉的安全性。结果显示,桂林市菜地土壤镉含量空间变异较大,呈现西北部和西南部低、东北部和东南部高的分布特点;与背景样点相比,菜地土壤镉累积效应显著,土壤镉含量范围、中值、算术均值和几何均值分别为0.056～17.35、0.624、1.193和0.696 mg.kg-1,超标率为85.5%。蔬菜镉含量范围、中值和几何均值分别为0.09～663.2、29.4和29.2μg.kg-1(以鲜质量计),综合超标率为4.95%;叶菜类蔬菜镉含量显著高于根茎类和瓜果类,花菜、韭菜、大白菜、大葱、芋头、豆苗、萝卜、菠菜、大蒜和蕃茄的镉富集系数较低,抗镉污染能力较强。桂林市居民人均通过食用蔬菜的镉摄入量为9.08μg.d-1,对普通人群不存在明显的食用安全风险。