Assessments of contamination and human health risks of heavy metals in the road dust from a mining county in Guangxi, China. Issue 6 (18th August 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Song, Bo; Guo, Guanghui; Lei, Mei; Wang, Yanwen
• Is Part Of: Human & ecological risk assessment. Volume 24:Issue 6(2018)
• Page Start: 1606
• Page End: 1622
• Publication Date: 2018-08-18
• Subjects: heavy metals -- road dust -- contamination assessment -- health risk assessment -- Nandan County; Health risk assessment -- Periodicals; Ecological risk assessment -- Periodicals; Ecology -- Periodicals; Risk Assessment -- Periodicals; 363.102
• DOI: 10.1080/10807039.2017.1419815
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1080-7039

Abstract

ABSTRACT: A total of 32 road dust samples were collected from mining areas and a control area in Nandan County, Guangxi, in order to investigate the contamination characteristics of heavy metals and associated health risks to local residents. The results indicated that elevated concentrations of As, Cd, Cu, Pb, Sb, and Zn were found in road dust in mining areas compared with control areas and background values. Pearson's correlation analysis and principal component analysis indicated that As, Cd, Cu, Pb, Sb, and Zn in road dust mainly originated from anthropogenic sources (e.g., vehicles emission, mining activities, and smelting activities), whereas Cr, Co, and Ni were associated with natural sources (e.g., soil weathering). Furthermore, noncarcinogenic hazards to both adults and children were found in mining areas, while noncarcinogenic health risks in the control area were negligible. The health hazard was mostly ascribed to the ingestion, followed by the dermal contact, and the inhalation. The cancer risks from As, Cd, Co, Cr, and Ni in all studied areas were within safe levels as the R values were below the threshold of 1 × 10 −6 .