Ecological and Human Health Risk Indicators of Heavy Metals in Soil of Eastern Area of Fayoum, Egypt

Document Type : Original full papers (regular papers)

Authors

1 October 6th- second dist.

2 Botany Department- Faculty of Science- Fayoum University

3 Fayoum University-.Faculty of Agriculture-Soil Department

Abstract

Soil pollution discusses the contamination of soil with anomalous concentrations of noxious substances. Since it harbors many ecological and health hazards. There is growing concern about gradual accumulation of HMs in soils. This paper conducted to appraise the extent of contamination of soil in the regions of Eastern Fayoum. It examines the associated potential risks due to four (HMs): Cd, Ni, Pb, and Mn. Moreover, non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic health risks, due to soil exposure, were evaluated for adults and children. The result shows that mean concentration of heavy metals (mg kg-1) in soil was often arranged as follows: Mn > Pb > Ni > Cd exceeds the FAO permissible limit. The pollution indices showed that the studied soil experienced high contamination with Cd and Pb, moderate to considerable contamination with Ni, and low Mn contamination. Cd shows very high ecological risk (4156.82), while Pb exhibits moderate ecological risk (51.46) and Ni and Mn show low ecological risk (19.62, and 5.84). The hazard index (HI) values of the four studied HMs signified that there was no adverse non-carcinogenic risk for adults (HI<1), while children have higher HI than adults and also than the safe limit (HI>1), indicating that children are expected to be subjected to high non-carcinogenic risks. The carcinogenic risk of Cd, Ni, Pb; was higher than the acceptable values (TCR > 1x10−4), indicating that Eastern Fayoum residents suffer from carcinogenic risks. Thus, soil management and regular monitoring of heavy metal levels should be assessed to prevent further soil pollution.

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