Probabilistic Human Health Risk Assessment of Heavy Metal Intake via Vegetable Consumption around Pb/Zn Smelters in Southwest China

Guanghui Guo, Degang Zhang and Yuntao Wang
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Guanghui Guo: Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
Degang Zhang: Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
Yuntao Wang: Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China

IJERPH, 2019, vol. 16, issue 18, 1-17

Abstract: Vegetable contamination in mining and smelting areas has resulted in high dietary intakes of heavy metals, which pose potential health risks to local residents. In this study, paired soil-vegetable samples were collected around Pb/Zn smelters in Southwest China. Probabilistic risks to local residents via vegetable consumption were evaluated with a Monte Carlo simulation. The mean concentrations of As, Cd, Cu, Pb, and Zn in the soils were 116.76, 3.59, 158.56, 196.96, and 236.74 mg/kg, respectively. About 38.18%, 58.49%, and 52.83% of the vegetable samples exceeded the maximum allowable concentrations for As, Cd, and Pb, respectively. The daily dietary intake of As, Cd, and Pb exceeded the provisional tolerable daily intakes for local residents, with children showing the highest intake via vegetable consumption. The percentages of the target hazard quotients of As, Cd, and Pb for local residents exceeding the safe value of one were about 95%, 50%, and 25%, respectively. The 95th percentiles of the hazard index for children, adolescents, and adults were 15.71, 11.15, and 9.34, respectively, indicating significant risks to local residents, especially children. These results highlight a need to develop effective strategies to reduce heavy metal contamination and exposure to protect human health.

Keywords: heavy metal; vegetable; dietary intake; probabilistic risk assessment (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2019
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (6)

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