海南岛北部潮间带红树林对重金属的累积特征

对海南岛北部潮间带红树林湿地7种红树植物（根、茎、叶）及其根系沉积物中重金属元素含量进行了分析,结果表明：研究区湿地沉积物中Ni、Cu、Zn、As和Cd的变异系数大于0.50,沉积物中重金属分布很不稳定。其中Cr、Cu、Zn、As和Cd的含量均高于海南水系沉积物背景值,可能存在外源的输入。仅有Pb的含量略低于海南水系沉积物背景值。总体来看,大部分植物显示了对Cd元素的较强的富集能力（BAC〉1）,瓶花木对重金属元素的吸收能力总体上要比其他红树植物强一些,木果楝对重金属元素的吸收能力总体上最弱。其中,瓶花木（Scyphiphora hydrophyllacea）对Cr、Zn、As和Cd的吸收能力较强,莲叶桐（Hernandia sonora）对Cr和Ni的吸收能力较强,角果木（Ceriops tagal）对Pb的富集能力较强。角果木（Ceriops tagal）和桐花树（Aegiceras corniculatum）对Cd和Pb的运输能力较强,瓶花木（Scyphiphora hydrophyllacea）对Cu、Zn和Cd的运输能力较强,尖瓣海莲（Bruguiera sexangula）对Cr、Ni、Cd和Pb的运输能力较强,木榄（Bruguiera gymnorrhiza）对Ni、Cu、Cd和Pb的运输能力较强,木果楝（Xylocarpus granatum）对Cr、Zn和Cd的运输能力较强,莲叶桐（Hernandia sonora）对Cr也有较强的运输能力。但此次所研究的红树植物对As元素的运输能力均很弱,建议适量引入适宜在研究区生长并且对As元素富集能力较强的植物。     

Impact of heavy metals on bacterial communities from mangrove soils of the Mahanadi Delta (India)

This study aimed to assess soil nutrient status and heavy metal content and their impact on the predominant soil bacterial communities of mangroves of the Mahanadi Delta. Mangrove soil of the Mahanadi Delta is slightly acidic and the levels of soil nutrients such as carbon, nitrogen, phosphorous and potash vary with season and site. The seasonal average concentrations (μg/g) of various heavy metals were in the range: 14 810–63 370 (Fe), 2.8–32.6 (Cu), 13.4–55.7 (Ni), 1.8–7.9 (Cd), 16.6–54.7 (Pb), 24.4–132.5 (Zn) and 13.3–48.2 (Co). Among the different heavy metals analysed, Co, Cu and Cd were above their permissible limits, as prescribed by Indian Standards (Co=17 μg/g, Cu=30 μ g/g, Cd=3–6 μ g/g), indicating pollution in the mangrove soil. A viable plate count revealed the presence of different groups of bacteria in the mangrove soil, i.e. heterotrophs, free-living N₂ fixers, nitrifyers, denitrifyers, phosphate solubilisers, cellulose degraders and sulfur oxidisers. Principal component analysis performed using multivariate statistical methods showed a positive relationship between soil nutrients and microbial load. Whereas metal content such as Cu, Co and Ni showed a negative impact on some of the studied soil bacteria.     

Accumulation of heavy metals in soil and paddy crop (Oryza sativa), irrigated with water of Ramgarh Lake,Gorakhpur, UP,India

Heavy metals, a highly polluting group of constituents known to exert adverse effects, tend to accumulate in living organisms. The objective of this study was to determine the accumulation and translocation of heavy metals in soil and in paddy crop irrigated with lake water compared to soil and paddy crop irrigated with bore-well water. The quantities of heavy metals (Cd, Cr, Cu, Pb, Zn, As, Mn, and Hg) were determined in different parts of rice plants (Oryza sativa). Results revealed that the mean levels of soil Cd, Cr, Pb, Zn, As, Mn, and Hg in experimental soil and in different parts of rice plant (root, straw, and grain) were higher than the control except for Cu. The content of eight toxic metals was significantly higher in root than in aerial parts of the rice (straw and grains). Rice roots were enriched in Cd, As, Hg, and Pb from the soil, while Cr, Cu, Zn, and Mn were hardly taken by the roots. Bioaccumulation factor for Hg was significantly higher than other heavy metals. Metal transfer factors from soil to rice plants were significant for Cd, Cr, Cu, Pb, Zn, As, Mn, and Hg. The concentrations of metals in lake water were found to be within the permissible limit of Indian standard prescribed by Central Pollution Control Board (2000), except for Hg and As, which were higher than the limit of Indian standard. However, the concentrations of heavy metals in soil and rice grains were still below the maximal levels, as stipulated by Indian Prevention of Food Adulteration Act (PFA, 1954) and World Health Organization (WHO, 1993) guidelines.     

大冶龙角山矿区几种植物的重金属吸收特征

通过调查采样和化学测试,对大冶龙角山矿区小麦、油菜、莴苣、白菜苔、豌豆等几种主要农作物中的重金属Cu、Pb、Cd及类金属As的质量分数进行分析。结果表明,供试农作物中,莴苣的重金属(包括As)质量分数显著高于其它作物的,其中以Cd质量分数最高,而豌豆的重金属质量分数最低,其它作物重金属质量分数由高到低的顺序为油菜、腌菜、白菜苔、小麦;小麦中的重金属质量分数依次是w(Cd) > w(As) > w(Pb) > w(Cu) > w(Cr),油菜中为w(Cd) > w(As) > w(Pb) > w(Cr) > w(Cu),莴苣中为w(Cd) > w(Cu) > w(Pb) > w(As)> w(Cr);随河流向下,作物中重金属含量变化规律与相应土壤中重金属累积量基本一致,如油菜含铜量在上游为0.61 g/g,在下游为0.37 g/g。     

珠江磨刀门河口表层沉积物中重金属含量及其分布特征

分析了在珠江磨刀门河口采集的37个表层沉积物样品重金属(Cu、Pb、Zn、Cr、Cd、Hg、As、Ni)的含量及分布特征。采用原子吸收法分析了Cu、Pb、Zn、Cr、Cd、Ni的含量,采用冷原子吸收法分析了Hg、As含量。结果表明,口门处及其两侧和拦门沙内坡重金属的含量最高;外海区域重金属含量普遍较低;由口内河床至口门处,Cu、Cr、Hg、As的含量减小,Pb、Cd、Zn、Ni的含量逐渐增大;大部分重金属(Cu、Pb、Zn、Cd、As、Ni)的含量由口门处至拦门沙地区是先减小再增大的;由拦门沙至外海,Cu、Pb、Cd、As的含量减小,Zn和Ni的含量先减小后增大;由口门处至外海,Cr和Hg含量的总体趋势是增大的。磨刀门河口表层沉积物中重金属元素含量与CEC、小于0.001mm粘粒以及沉积物有机质含量的相关性均达到显著或极显著水平;重金属含量与沉积物pH值的相关性不显著;重金属元素的含量变化和分布规律还表明磨刀门表层沉积物的重金属主要受陆源污染物的影响。     

Spatial distribution and ecological risk assessment of heavy metals in surface sediments from a typical plateau lake wetland, China

Surface sediment (0-15 cm) samples were collected from 31 different grid points throughout the Yilong Lake in April 2004. Samples were subjected to a total digestion technique and analyzed for As, Cd, Cr, Pb, Ni, Cu, and Zn in order to study spatial distribution characteristics based on Kriging method and assess their ecological risks posed by these heavy metals. Results showed that the mean concentrations of these heavy metals were lower than potential effect levels. Patches of higher heavy metal concentrations occurred in the inflow area of the Cheng River and northeast area nearby the road and railway. The higher concentrations of As and Cr also appeared in the east area (lake outlet), while the patches of lower concentrations were uniformly distributed at the southwest corner between Luosewan and Xiaoguoxi. The heavy metal loads such as As, Cd and Pb might come from the common sources due to industrial sewage and traffic pollution, while higher concentrations of Ni, Cr, and Zn in these sediments were dominated by parent rocks. However, Cu originated from both sources. Sediments with respect to As, Cd and Cu were grouped below the effect range low (ERL) at all sites, and with respect to Cr and Pb were grouped into the range from ERL to the effect range median (ERM) at more than 50% of sampling sites. The mean heavy metal toxic units in the Yilong Lake decreased following the order Pb > Cr > As > Ni > Zn > Cd > Cu, with higher contributions to the sum of toxic units of Pb, Cr and As.     

珠江三角洲养殖鱼塘水体中重金属污染特征和评估

为了解珠江三角洲主要养殖环境中重金属含量及潜在生态危害程度,用电感藕合等离子质谱法和原子荧光法测定了肇庆、广州、惠州和茂名4市14个样点沉积物中7种元素的水体及底泥总量,并对底泥中主要重金属污染状况及潜在生态风险进行了评价。结果表明：养殖鱼塘水体中Cr质量浓度范围是nd-0.1011 mg·L-1,超标率为7.1%,Cu质量浓度范围为nd-0.1438 mg·L-1,超标率为64.3%,As质量浓度范围是0.0112-0.0812 mg·L-1,超标率为24.1%,Hg质量浓度范围是0.00004-0.00458 mg·L^-1,超标率为35.7%,Pb质量浓度范围为nd-0.0973 mg·L^-1,超标率为6.8%,其余Ni、Zn和Cd质量浓度范围分别为nd-0.0218、nd-0.0232和nd-0.00319 mg·L^-1,均未超渔业水质标准;底泥中重金属元素Cr、Cu、Zn、As、Hg、Cd和Pb的平均值分别为83.86、46.19、242.16、32.38、0.64、1.00和60.06 mg·kg^-1,地积累指数评价结果显示,表层沉积物重金属污染程度顺序为Cd＞Hg＞Zn＞Pb＞As＞Cu＞Cr,其中,Cd污染程度为中-强,是底泥污染最严重的元素。潜在生态风险指数分析,单项潜在生态风险指数生态风险均值排列顺序为 Hg＞As＞Cd＞Pb＞Cu＞Zn＞Cr。对区域综合潜在生态风险指数RI的贡献率最大的元素为Hg、As和Cd。4个市底泥潜在生态风险综合指数（RI）比较,惠州（290.13）＞广州（240.54）＞茂名（193.23）＞肇庆（116.40）。Hg和Cd是该水域污染和潜在生态风险最大的元素。     

厦门市水体表层沉积物重金属污染生态风险分析

沉积物是水环境的基本组成部分,其重金属含量常被作为水环境质量的重要指标之一。以厦门市为例探讨了不同城市化区域水体表层沉积物中重金属的分布特征,并采用沉积物地累积指数、Hakanson潜在生态风险指数等方法对重金属Zn、Pb、Cu、Cd、Cr、As、Hg进行环境风险评估。研究结果表明,厦门水体表层沉积物中Zn、Pb、Cu、Cd、Cr、As、Hg的含量分别为182.2、63.7、31.3、0.19、67.9、10.4、0.11 mg/kg,空间分布呈现出从城市远郊区到中心城区显著增加的趋势;依照地累积指数评价结果显示：7种重金属的污染程度顺序依次为：Hg（Pb（Zn（Cu（Cd（As（Cr;采用Hakanson提出的潜在生态危害指数法,获得厦门市主要水库重金属生态风险构成危害的顺序：Hg（Cd（Pb（As（Cu（Zn（Cr;水体表层沉积物中重金属污染水平与区域城市化水平在一定时期内呈正相关关系,这为我国快速城市化发展过程中水环境恶化问题的改善提出了警示。     

Characteristics,sources and health risk assessment of toxic heavy metals in PM<Subscript>2.5</Subscript> at a megacity of southwest China

Twenty trace elements in fine particulate matters (i.e., PM_2.5) at urban Chengdu, a southwest megacity of China, were determined to study the characteristics, sources and human health risk of particulate toxic heavy metals. This work mainly focused on eight toxic heavy metal elements (As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Mn, Ni, Pb and Zn). The average concentration of PM_2.5 was 165.1 ± 84.7 µg m^?3 during the study period, significantly exceeding the National Ambient Air Quality Standard (35 µg m^?3 in annual average). The particulate heavy metal pollution was very serious in which Cd and As concentrations in PM_2.5 significantly surpassed the WHO standard. The enrichment factor values of heavy metals were typically higher than 10, suggesting that they were mainly influenced by anthropogenic sources. More specifically, the Cr, Mn and Ni were slightly enriched, Cu was highly enriched, while As, Cd, Pb and Zn were severely enriched. The results of correlation analysis showed that Cd may come from metallurgy and mechanical manufacturing emissions, and the other metals were predominately influenced by traffic emissions and coal combustion. The results of health risk assessment indicated that As, Mn and Cd would pose a significant non-carcinogenic health risk to both children and adults, while Cr would cause carcinogenic risk. Other toxic heavy metals were within a safe level.     

应用物种敏感性分布评估中国近海和福建主要海湾水体重金属生态风险

利用物种敏感性分布(species sensitivity distribution,SSD)方法构建常见重金属元素对海洋生物的SSD曲线,在此基础上,结合实际调查数据,计算了中国近海7种重金属(As、Cd、Cr、Cu、Hg、Pb、Zn)和福建主要海湾6种重金属(As、Cd、Cu、Hg、Pb、Zn)对海洋生物的潜在影响比例(PAF),并分析了各种重金属在相应海区的联合生态风险(msPAF)。结果表明,中国近海水体重金属对海洋生物的生态风险大小顺序为:渤海(20.67%)>黄海(18.39%)>东海(15.94%)>南海(11.26%)。福建主要海湾水体重金属对海洋生物的生态风险大小顺序为:泉州湾(47.44%)>厦门湾(47.16%)>罗源湾(43.03%)>沙埕港(34.65%)>深沪湾(30.34%)>三沙湾(28.64%)>闽江口(20.55%)>诏安湾(20.42%)>兴化湾(18.37%)>湄洲湾(17.24%)。     

Relationship between total concentration and dilute HCl extraction of heavy metals in sediments of harbors and coastal areas in Korea

Total concentrations of Cr, Ni, Cu, Zn, Cd and Pb in surface sediments were determined to investigate the regional trends of heavy metal contamination in 11 coastal areas in Korea. Enrichment factor (EF) of heavy metals was calculated by comparing the level of their regional background. The averages of EF values in study areas were 0.99 for Cr, 1.05 for Ni, 4.23 for Cu, 1.80 for Zn, 3.92 for Cd and 1.54 for Pb, respectively. Dilute HCl extractions were useful to deduce the anthropogenic sources of heavy metals and the 1 M HCl extractable fractions of each metal varied from 0.3 to 37.3% for Cr, 1.9 to 66.3% for Ni, 4.2 to 92.9% for Cu, 7.1 to 99.7% for Zn, 10.9 to 98.9% for Cd and 15.0 to 99.1% for Pb. Comparing 1 M HCl extractable fraction to total concentration, large portions of Cu, Zn, Cd and Pb were present as potentially bioavailable fractions from anthropogenic input and were significantly correlated with their EF values showing r > 0.68.     

深圳市内某河表层沉积物重金属含量及污染评价

2008年11月,从广东省深圳市内某河采集9个(0—5cm)表层沉积物样品,分析其Cu,Cd,Cr,Pb,Zn,Ni,As和Hg的含量和前6种元素的形态分布,并采用潜在生态风险指数法进行污染评价.结果表明,沉积物中Cu和Zn的含量普遍较高,为5.27—1865mg.kg-1和198.4—1275mg.kg-1,其次是Cr,Ni和Pb,为54.39—908.7mg.kg-1、31.3—445.5mg.kg-1和11.63—814.9mg.kg-1,As,Cd和Hg的含量较少;Cd的残余晶格态、Cr的铁/锰氧化态和残余晶格态、Cu的有机结合态和残余晶格态,以及Ni,Pb和Zn的铁/锰氧化态为各元素的主要存在形态;沉积物中Cd和Cu的潜在生态风险普遍较大,9个样品中6个达到Cd极强生态危害,4个达到Cu很强生态危害,有5个样品的重金属混合污染潜在生态风险达到极强生态危害.     

衡阳市菜园使用的商品有机肥和有机废弃物中重金属含量状况调查

对衡阳市菜园使用的12个有机肥样品中的Zn、Cu、Cr、Pb、Cd、Ni、Hg和As的指标进行检测,样品中重金属总As、总Hg、总Pb、总Cd、总Cr等的含量按照中国NY525—2012有机肥料重金属限量指标,总Ni、总Cu、总Zn重金属参照德国腐熟堆肥中重金属限量标准进行分析,结果表明,除牛粪、菜籽饼肥外,有9个样品均发现有超限量值的重金属成分,超标样品数占总样品数的75%,超标的重金属成分以Cu和Zn较为普遍,分别占样品总数的75%和41.7%.而在超标程度方面,有两个样品的中的Cu和两个样品中的Cr均为严重超标.这些肥料使用不当,对菜园土和蔬菜品质产生不良影响,应给予关注.     

会泽某铅锌矿周边农田土壤重金属生态风险评价

为了了解云南会泽某铅锌矿废周边农田土壤中重金属含量及潜在的生态危害程度,利用野外采样与实验室分析相结合的方法,以会泽某铅锌矿周边农田土壤（0-20 cm）为研究对象,分析其中7种的重金属（Cd、As、Pb、Cr、Cu、Zn和Hg）含量,并采用风险评价代码法和Hankanson潜在生态风险指数法评价对重金属污染程度与潜在生态风险进行评价。结果表明：7种重金属都存在超标或污染,其中Pb、As、Cd等的污染较为严重。统计学分析结果表明,Pb、As、Hg、Zn、Cd来源相同,铅锌矿冶炼污染物的排放可能是导致研究区域农田土壤重金属含量升高的主要原因。7种重金属化学形态也不尽相同：在重金属有效态中,Cd的水溶态和可提取态较高（平均值达到31.2%）;Pb、Cu和Zn可还原态、可氧化态这两部分含量较高,两部分之和的平均值分别可达到27.9%、30%和27.2%;Hg、As和Cr的残渣态含量较高,平均值分别为90.4%、72.9%和76.8%。风险评价代码评价结果表明,54.4%的样点Cd为高生态风险,45.6%的样点Cd为中度生态风险;100%的样点Zn为中度生态风险;Cu有41.2%的点位属于低生态风险,58.8%的点位属于中度生态风险;As和Pb主要以低生态风险为主（所占比例分别为92.6%和91.8%）;Hg主要以无生态风险为主（所占97.1%）。Hakanson潜在生态风险指数法结果表明,7种重金属潜在生态危害大小顺序为：Cd（331）〉Hg（127.5）〉Pb（43.6）〉As（14.9）〉Cu（9.3）〉Zn（2.3）〉Cr（2.1）。7种重金属的综合潜在生态风险指数（RI）的范围为58.2-1839.3。11%的采样点处于轻微生态风险程度,27.1%的采样点处于中等生态风险程度,46.3%的的采样点处于强生态风险程度,15.6%的采样点处于很强的生态风险程度。综上所述,该矿区周边农田土壤受到了严重的重金属污染,由此引起的重金属生态风险不容忽视?     

Heavy metals in the polychaete Glycera longipinnis from the southwest of India

Metal concentrations in sediment and in whole tissue of the benthic polychaete Glycera longipinnis collected along the southwest coast of India were analysed. Relative seasonal accumulation of metals (Cu, Pb, Cr, Ni, Zn, Cd, Hg) was studied by categorising the habitat as less polluted or highly polluted based on metal contamination routed through industrial and urban sources. The metal content in tissues varied seasonally in the ranges, Cu: 2.21–27.08 μg·g^?1, Pb: 0.06–4.92 μg·g^?1, Cr: 1.73–29.20 μg·g^?1, Ni: 1.60–4.61 μg·g^?1, Zn: 14.72–82.30 μg·g^?1, Cd: 0.04–1.38 μg·g^?1and Hg: below decetable limits to 0.86 μg·g^?1. Concentration of heavy metals was found to be high in the whole body of G. longipinnis pooled from the polluted transects. The results of this study suggest that G. longipinnis may act as a useful biological indicator for heavy metal pollution along the southwest coast of India.     

洞庭湖主要入湖口表层沉积物重金属分布特征与生态风险评价

尽管针对洞庭湖沉积物中重金属的研究工作较多,但缺乏针对其主要入湖口的研究。基于2014年12月和2015年6月对洞庭湖主要入湖口表层沉积物中重金属调查,分析了重金属含量的时空分布特征,并采用一致性沉积物质量基准法对其生态风险进行了评价。结果表明,Cd、Hg、As、Cu、Pb和Zn的平均含量分别为3.27、0.190、27.10、39.8、38.0和157.8 mg·kg-1,其大小顺序为ZnCuPbAsCdHg,Cd和As含量出现超过土壤环境质量三级标准的现象,是主要的重金属污染物。Cd、As、Pb和Zn等4种重金属含量的最高值均出现在湘江入湖口,Cu含量的最高值出现在资水入湖口,Hg含量以沅江入湖口最高,除Pb外,其他5种重金属在湘江和资水入湖口的含量均大于平均值,表明湘江和资水入湖口污染较为严重;汛期与非汛期6种重金属的含量均无显著性差异(P0.05)。6种重金属生态风险大小顺序为AsCdZnPbCuHg,各入湖口生态风险大小顺序为湘江入湖口资水入湖口沅江入湖口汨罗江入湖口澧水入湖口长江"三口"新墙河入湖口,其中湘江和资水入湖口为较高生态风险,其他入湖口为较低生态风险。入湖河流是洞庭湖湖体沉积物重金属污染的主要来源,在一定程度上,入湖河流沉积物中重金属的含量对洞庭湖湖体沉积物中重金属污染状况起着决定性作用,因此,洞庭湖流域重金属污染防控应以入湖河流为主,其中尤以湘江和资水为重点。     

Seasonal variation of heavy metals in sediment of Lake Ulansuhai,China

Sediment samples were collected from 10 sites in Lake Ulansuhai during summer and winter 2009 to reveal seasonal variations in sediment heavy metal levels. The geoaccumulation index (GI) was calculated to assess the severity of metal pollution. The GI values suggest that, in winter, the lake sediments were polluted slightly with Cu (GI=0.66–1.34), Zn (GI=0.59–1.35), Cr (GI=0.49–0.82) and Pb (GI=0.60–0.96), and moderately with Cd (GI=1.03–4.23). The degree of pollution was higher in winter than in summer. By contrast, the degree of pollution was higher in summer than in winter for Hg and As. Correlation analysis can be used to identify factors influencing seasonal variations in heavy metals. The concetrations of Cu, Zn, Pb, Cr and Cd were negatively correlated with water temperature and hydrodynamic conditions, but positively correlated with organic matter concentration in the sediments and with a sediment particle size of<63 μm (p<0.01). Meanwhile, Hg and As concentrations were affected by redox state and salinity. Among the metals tested, Hg and Cd posed a more serious pollution risk.     

Ecological and human health risks from metal(loid)s in peri-urban soil in Nanjing,China

In order to investigate the ecological and human health risks of metal(loid)s (Cu, Pb, Zn, Ni, Cd, Mn, Cr, and As) in peri-urban soils, 43 surface soil samples were collected from the peri-urban area around Nanjing, a megacity in China. The average contents were 1.19, 67.8, 37.6, 105, 167, 44.6, 722, and 50.8 mg kg^?1 for Cd, Cr, Ni, Pb, Zn, Cu, Mn, and As, respectively. A significant positive correlation was found between Cu, Pb, Zn, Cd, Mn, and As (p < 0.01), and Cr had a significant positive correlation with Ni (p < 0.01). Geoaccumulation indices indicate the presence of Cd and As contamination in all of the peri-urban soil samples. Potential ecological risk indices show that the metal(loid)s in the soil could result in higher ecological risks. Cd is the main contributor to the risk, followed by As. The levels of Cu, Pb, Zn, Cd, Mn, and As in stomach and intestinal phases show a positive linear correlation with their total contents. Mn, Zn, Ni, Cd, and Pb in stomach phase showed higher bioaccessibility, while in intestinal phase, Cu, Cr, and As had the higher bioaccessibility. The carcinogenic risk in children and adults posed by As, Pb, and Cr via ingestion was deemed acceptable. The non-carcinogenic risks posed by these metal(loid)s via ingestion to children are higher than to adults and mainly result from As.     

Heavy metal contamination of soil,and bioaccumulation in vegetables irrigated with treated waste water in the tropical city of Varanasi,India

The present study was conducted to determine the heavy metal contamination in soil with accumulation in plants in waste water irrigated areas. Results revealed that waste water contained lower concentrations of Cr, Zn, Cu, and Pb except Cd (0.03) than the permissible limits prescribed by the World Health Organization. The maximum metal concentrations occurred in Brassica oleracea (Zn 63.80, Cu 12.25, Cr 10.65, Pb 3.63, and Cd 0.56 mg Kg^?1).The metal enrichment (EF of Cd 1.9, Cr2.9, Zn 4.8, Cu 6.5, and Pb 15.5) and degree of contamination (CF of Cd 2.9, Cr 2.0, Zn 2.3, Cu 2.7, and Pb 2.2) showed that accumulation of the five toxic metals increased during sewage irrigation as compared with the reference values, other Indian regions and globally. However, based on WHO standards for heavy metal contamination of soil and irrigation water, our data does not ensure safe levels for food.     

Application of multivariate statistical analysis in the pollution and health risk of traffic-related heavy metals

This study aims to analyse the heavy metal pollutants in Jeddah, the second largest city in the Gulf Cooperation Council with a population exceeding 3.5 million, and many vehicles. Ninety-eight street dust samples were collected seasonally from the six major roads as well as the Jeddah Beach, and subsequently digested using modified Leeds Public Analyst method. The heavy metals (Fe, Zn, Mn, Cu, Cd, and Pb) were extracted from the ash using methyl isobutyl ketone as solvent extraction and eventually analysed by atomic absorption spectroscopy. Multivariate statistical techniques, principal component analysis (PCA), and hierarchical cluster analysis were applied to these data. Heavy metal concentrations were ranked according to the following descending order: Fe > Zn > Mn > Cu > Pb > Cd. In order to study the pollution and health risk from these heavy metals as well as estimating their effect on the environment, pollution indices, integrated pollution index, enrichment factor, daily dose average, hazard quotient, and hazard index were all analysed. The PCA showed high levels of Zn, Fe, and Cd in Al Kurnish road, while these elements were consistently detected on King Abdulaziz and Al Madina roads. The study indicates that high levels of Zn and Pb pollution were recorded for major roads in Jeddah. Six out of seven roads had high pollution indices. This study is the first step towards further investigations into current health problems in Jeddah, such as anaemia and asthma.