Potential Human Exposure to Mercury (Hg) in a Chlor-Alkali Plant Impacted Zone: Risk Characterization Using Updated Site Assessment Data

Symbat Kismelyeva, Rustem Khalikhan, Aisulu Torezhan, Aiganym Kumisbek, Zhanel Akimzhanova, Ferhat Karaca and Mert Guney
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Symbat Kismelyeva: Environmental Science and Technology, Faculteit Bio-Ingenieurswetenschappen, Universiteit Gent, Coupure Links 653, 9000 Gent, Belgium
Rustem Khalikhan: Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, School of Engineering and Digital Sciences, The Environment & Resource Efficiency Cluster (EREC), Nazarbayev University, Kabanbay Batyr Avenue 53, Nur-Sultan 010000, Kazakhstan
Aisulu Torezhan: Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, School of Engineering and Digital Sciences, The Environment & Resource Efficiency Cluster (EREC), Nazarbayev University, Kabanbay Batyr Avenue 53, Nur-Sultan 010000, Kazakhstan
Aiganym Kumisbek: Faculty of Engineering, University of Debrecen, Otemeto Street 2-4, 4028 Debrecen, Hungary
Zhanel Akimzhanova: Environmental Engineering and Sustainability Management, École Polytechnique de Paris, Route de Saclay, CEDEX, 91128 Palaiseau, France
Ferhat Karaca: Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, School of Engineering and Digital Sciences, The Environment & Resource Efficiency Cluster (EREC), Nazarbayev University, Kabanbay Batyr Avenue 53, Nur-Sultan 010000, Kazakhstan
Mert Guney: Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, School of Engineering and Digital Sciences, The Environment & Resource Efficiency Cluster (EREC), Nazarbayev University, Kabanbay Batyr Avenue 53, Nur-Sultan 010000, Kazakhstan

Sustainability, 2021, vol. 13, issue 24, 1-18

Abstract: Industrial activities have resulted in severe environmental contamination that may expose rural and urban populations to unacceptable health risks. For example, chlor-alkali plants (CAPs) have historically contributed mercury (Hg) contamination in different environmental compartments. One such site (a burden from the Soviet Union) is located in an industrial complex in Pavlodar, Kazakhstan. Earlier studies showed the CAP operating in the second half of the twentieth century caused elevated Hg levels in soil, water, air, and biota. However, follow-up studies with thorough risk characterization are missing. The present study aims to provide a detailed risk characterization based on the data from a recent site assessment around the former CAP. The ⅀ HI (hazard index) ranged from 9.30 × 10 −4 to 0.125 (deterministic method) and from 5.19 × 10 −4 to 2.54 × 10 −2 (probabilistic method). The results indicate acceptable excess human health risks from exposure to Hg contamination in the region, i.e., exposure to other Hg sources not considered. Air inhalation and soil ingestion pathways contributed to the highest ⅀ HI values (up to 99.9% and 92.0%, respectively). The residential exposure scenario (among four) presented the greatest human health risks, with ⅀ HI values ranging from 1.23 × 10 −2 to 0.125. Although the local urban and rural population is exposed to acceptable risks coming from exposure to Hg-contaminated environmental media, an assessment of contamination directly on the former CAP site on the industrial complex could not be performed due to access prohibition. Furthermore, the risks from ingesting contaminated fish were not covered as methyl-Hg was not targeted. An additional assessment may be needed for the scenarios of exposure of workers on the industrial complex and of the local population consuming fish from contaminated Lake Balkyldak. Studies on the fate and transport of Hg in the contaminated ecosystem are also recommended considering Hg methylation and subsequent bioaccumulation in the food chain.

Keywords: exposure assessment; heavy metals; Kazakhstan; Pavlodar; risk assessment; sediment contamination; site characterization; soil pollution; water pollution (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
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