Heavy Metal in Rice and Vegetable and Human Exposure near a Large Pb/Zn Smelter in Central China

Yanxin Hu, Chuan Wang, Zhengcheng Song, Min Chen, Li Ding, Xingyu Liang, Xiangyang Bi, Zhonggen Li, Ping Li and Wei Zheng
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Yanxin Hu: State Key Laboratory of Environmental Geochemistry, Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guiyang 550081, China
Chuan Wang: State Key Laboratory of Environmental Geochemistry, Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guiyang 550081, China
Zhengcheng Song: State Key Laboratory of Environmental Geochemistry, Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guiyang 550081, China
Min Chen: School of Public Health, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang 550025, China
Li Ding: School of Public Health, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang 550025, China
Xingyu Liang: State Key Laboratory of Environmental Geochemistry, Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guiyang 550081, China
Xiangyang Bi: Hubei Key Laboratory of Critical Zone Evolution, School of Earth Sciences, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan 430074, China
Zhonggen Li: School of Resources and Environment, Zunyi Normal College, Zunyi 563006, China
Ping Li: State Key Laboratory of Environmental Geochemistry, Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guiyang 550081, China
Wei Zheng: Institute of Atmospheric Environment, Chinese Academy of Environmental Planning, Beijing 100012, China

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 23, 1-13

Abstract: Non-ferrous metal smelting is a significant source of anthropogenic heavy metal emission and has led to severe environmental pollution that ultimately threatens the health of local residents. In this study, we determined concentrations of copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), cadmium (Cd) and lead (Pb), as well as Pb isotopic compositions in rice, vegetables and human hair in areas surrounding the Zhuzhou Pb/Zn smelter in Hunan, China and we assessed the health risks associated with rice and vegetable consumption for local residents. Results showed that rice and vegetable samples were significantly contaminated by Cd and Pb. Age and source of rice were important factors for the enrichment of heavy metal concentrations in human hair. The ratios of Pb isotopes in human hair (1.164–1.170 for 206 Pb/ 207 Pb and 2.102–2.110 for 208 Pb/ 206 Pb) were comparable to those in rice (1.162–1.172 for 206 Pb/ 207 Pb and 2.098–2.114 for 208 Pb/ 206 Pb) and were slightly lower than those in vegetables (1.168–1.172 for 206 Pb/ 207 Pb and 2.109–2.111 for 208 Pb/ 206 Pb), indicating that Pb in human hair mainly originated from food ingestion. A non-carcinogenic risk assessment showed that Cd exposure was the dominant health risk for local residents. This study suggested that crops planted surrounding the smelter were seriously contaminated with Cd and human exposure was related to dietary intake.

Keywords: Pb/Zn smelter; Pb isotopes; heavy metals; health risk (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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