Potential Ecological and Human Health Risks of Heavy Metals in Soils in Selected Copper Mining Areas—A Case Study: The Bor Area

Marioara Nicoleta Filimon, Ion Valeriu Caraba, Roxana Popescu, Gabi Dumitrescu, Doina Verdes, Liliana Petculescu Ciochina and Adrian Sinitean
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Marioara Nicoleta Filimon: Faculty of Chemistry, Biology, Geography, West University of Timişoara, 300115 Timişoara, Romania
Ion Valeriu Caraba: Faculty of Bioengineering of Animal Resources, Banat University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine “King Mihai I of Romania” from Timisoara, 300645 Timisoara, Romania
Roxana Popescu: ANAPATMOL Research Center, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 300041 Timisoara, Romania
Gabi Dumitrescu: ANAPATMOL Research Center, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 300041 Timisoara, Romania
Doina Verdes: ANAPATMOL Research Center, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 300041 Timisoara, Romania
Liliana Petculescu Ciochina: Faculty of Bioengineering of Animal Resources, Banat University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine “King Mihai I of Romania” from Timisoara, 300645 Timisoara, Romania
Adrian Sinitean: Faculty of Chemistry, Biology, Geography, West University of Timişoara, 300115 Timişoara, Romania

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 4, 1-18

Abstract: Surface soil samples were collected near the Open Pit Bor (S1) and Open Pit Cerovo (S2), a grassland along the Borska Reka River (S3) and an unpolluted garden near Slatina village (reference site). Spontaneous plants (dandelion, nettle, coltsfoot, and creeping buttercup) and vegetables (onion, garlic, carrot, parsley, celery, potatoes, dill, and sorrel) were obtained from the former three sites and the reference site, respectively. The samples were analyzed for Zn, Cu, Fe, Mn, and Pb via FAAS. Pollution indices indicated low-to-moderate soil contamination at sites S1, S2, and S3. Cu was the main contaminant of environmental concern, being above the maximum admitted concentration at site S1. Metal levels in spontaneous plants were below phytotoxic levels. Cu content of leafy vegetables and celery roots and Pb content of most vegetables were not safe for human consumption. Metal concentrations tended to be significantly lower in plants than in soils, with only Cu occurring at significantly elevated levels in celery roots and sorrel leaves. Non-carcinogenic risk assessment showed that consumption of carrot roots and especially celery roots grown on unpolluted soils from the Bor area might pose long-term health risks for females and males, with the main contributors being Cu and Fe.

Keywords: heavy metals; soils; spontaneous plants; vegetables; ecological risk; human 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 references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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