INTEGRATED HEALTH RISK ASSESSMENT NEAR A SMELTER BASED ON SOIL CD(II) POLLUTION

In this study, we established a systematic health risk evaluation model by using the assessment of Cd(II) risks in different sources (soil, dust, and crop). A metallic smelter was selected in this paper. Cd(II) contents in different soil areas (116 soil samples) were determined, and the Cd(II) contents in dust and crop were calculated based on soil content. The acceptability of the health risks of Cd(II) in soil, dust, and crop in different R regions (annular regions were created based on 500 m interval) were analyzed to determine the overall acceptable limit of Cd(II) content. Results showed that: 1) The average Cd(II) contents of the surface soil ranged from 0.20 mg kg(-1) to 0.55 mg kg(-1), and the highest Cd(II) content (1.81 mg kg(-1)) was found in the NW direction. 2) The total carcinogenic risk of Cd(II) in R1 was 1.59x10(-6), which was beyond the safe level of 1x10(-6). The total non-carcinogenic risk for children was greater than that for adult, risk values were all lower than the limit level of 1. 3) The risk contribution of carcinogenic through ingestion (> 90%) was the largest among the other pathways, while the non-carcinogenic risk was over than 99%. Carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic risks were mainly originated from Cd(II) pollutants in soil and plant, respectively. 4) In the R1-NW area, mandatory management should be performed (> safety level). The R1-SW and R2-NW/WSW areas only need an early warning for carcinogenic risk, as well as the R1-NW area for non-carcinogenic risk(> 80% safety level). However, carcinogenic risk should be given particular attention in the R1-SSW/ESE/SE/W, R2-NNE, R3, SE, R5-SSW, and R7-ESE areas (>60% safety level). The acceptable Cd(II) contents were 1.14 and 2.40 mg kg(-1) for the carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic risks, respectively.