Spatial Distribution and Fuzzy Health Risk Assessment of Trace Elements in Surface Water from Honghu Lake

Fei Li, Zhenzhen Qiu, Jingdong Zhang, Chaoyang Liu, Ying Cai and Minsi Xiao
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Fei Li: Research Center for Environment and Health, Zhongnan University of Economics and Law, Wuhan 430073, China
Zhenzhen Qiu: Research Center for Environment and Health, Zhongnan University of Economics and Law, Wuhan 430073, China
Jingdong Zhang: Research Center for Environment and Health, Zhongnan University of Economics and Law, Wuhan 430073, China
Chaoyang Liu: Research Center for Environment and Health, Zhongnan University of Economics and Law, Wuhan 430073, China
Ying Cai: Research Center for Environment and Health, Zhongnan University of Economics and Law, Wuhan 430073, China
Minsi Xiao: Research Center for Environment and Health, Zhongnan University of Economics and Law, Wuhan 430073, China

IJERPH, 2017, vol. 14, issue 9, 1-18

Abstract: Previous studies revealed that Honghu Lake was polluted by trace elements due to anthropogenic activities. This study investigated the spatial distribution of trace elements in Honghu Lake, and identified the major pollutants and control areas based on the fuzzy health risk assessment at screening level. The mean total content of trace elements in surface water decreased in the order of Zn (18.04 ?g/L) > Pb (3.42 ?g/L) > Cu (3.09 ?g/L) > Cr (1.63 ?g/L) > As (0.99 ?g/L) > Cd (0.14 ?g/L), within limits of Drinking Water Guidelines. The results of fuzzy health risk assessment indicated that there was no obvious non-carcinogenic risk to human health, while carcinogenic risk was observed in descending order of As > Cr > Cd > Pb. As was regarded to have the highest carcinogenic risk among selected trace elements because it generally accounted for 64% of integrated carcinogenic risk. Potential carcinogenic risk of trace elements in each sampling site was approximately at medium risk level (10 ?5 to 10 ?4 ). The areas in the south (S4, S13, and S16) and northeast (S8, S18, and S19) of Honghu Lake were regarded as the risk priority control areas. However, the corresponding maximum memberships of integrated carcinogenic risk in S1, S3, S10–S13, S15, and S18 were of relatively low credibility (50–60%), and may mislead the decision-makers in identifying the risk priority areas. Results of fuzzy assessment presented the subordinate grade and corresponding reliability of risk, and provided more full-scale results for decision-makers, which made up for the deficiency of certainty assessment to a certain extent.

Keywords: surface water; trace elements; spatial distribution; health risk assessment; triangular fuzzy numbers; Honghu Lake (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2017
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (3)

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