Priority Soil Pollution Management of Contaminated Site Based on Human Health Risk Assessment: A Case Study in Southwest China

Jin Wu, Ruitao Jia, Hao Xuan, Dasheng Zhang, Guoming Zhang and Yuting Xiao
Additional contact information
Jin Wu: Faculty of Architecture, Civil and Transportation Engineering, Beijing University of Technology, Beijing 100124, China
Ruitao Jia: Faculty of Architecture, Civil and Transportation Engineering, Beijing University of Technology, Beijing 100124, China
Hao Xuan: Appraisal Center for Environment and Engineering, Ministry of Ecology and Environment of China, Beijing 100012, China
Dasheng Zhang: Hebei Institute of Water Science, Shijiazhuang 050051, China
Guoming Zhang: Key Laboratory of Environmental Change and Natural Disaster, Ministry of Education, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China
Yuting Xiao: Faculty of Geographical Science, Academy of Disaster Reduction and Emergency Management, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China

Sustainability, 2022, vol. 14, issue 6, 1-19

Abstract: The human risk assessment model can serve as a tool for regional contaminated site comprehensive management. However, site-specific risk assessment is still seldom applied in China as a basis for making decisions on risk management actions. In this study, a total of 112 soil samples were collected from ten polluted sites in Southwest China. The human health risk assessment method was used to assess the risk of Cd, As, Cu, Pb, Cr, Zn, and Hg pollution. According to the findings, the average concentrations of As, Zn, and Pb in contaminated sites are substantially higher than those of Cu, Cd, Cr, and Hg. Further studies conclusively showed the soil at contaminated site in its present condition pose risk to human health to potential future receptors. The main contribution of non-cancer and cancer risks was through incidental soil and dust ingestion. The priority control site remediation order is Region VI > Region V > Region IV > Region III > Region VII > Region X > Region IX > Region VIII > Region I > Region II. Finally, management recommendations are made, including reducing pollutant intake, implementing a stringent monitoring scheme, utilizing bioremediation, and strengthening the implementation of relevant laws. This study provides a case for the comprehensive evaluation of soil pollution at contaminated sites in China.

Keywords: contaminated site; heavy metal; health risk assessment; risk-based remedial levels; site priority control (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

Downloads: (external link)
https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/14/6/3663/pdf (application/pdf)
https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/14/6/3663/ (text/html)

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:14:y:2022:i:6:p:3663-:d:775788

Access Statistics for this article

Sustainability is currently edited by Ms. Alexandra Wu

More articles in Sustainability from MDPI
Bibliographic data for series maintained by MDPI Indexing Manager ().