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Arsenic, copper, and zinc contamination in soil and wheat during coal mining, with assessment of health risks for the inhabitants of Huaibei, China
- Source :
- Environmental science and pollution research international. 20(12)
- Publication Year :
- 2013
-
Abstract
- Field studies were conducted to investigate arsenic (As), copper (Cu), and zinc (Zn) contamination in agricultural soils and wheat crops at two areas in Huaibei, China. Area A is in the proximity of Shuoli coal mine. In area B, three coal mines and a coal cleaning plant were distributed. The potential health risk of As, Cu, and Zn exposure to the local inhabitants through consumption of wheat grains was also estimated. The results showed that significantly higher (p < 0.05) concentrations of As, Cu, and Zn were found in soils collected from area B than in those from area A. Arsenic concentrations in wheat sampled from area A were negatively correlated with the distance from the coal mine (p < 0.001). Concentrations of Cu and Zn in wheat seedlings and grains collected from area B were significantly higher (p < 0.05) than in those collected from area A, with the exception of Zn in wheat seedlings. Concentrations of Cu and Zn in most wheat grain samples were above the permissible limits of Cu and Zn in edible plants set by the Food and Agriculture Organization/World Health Organization. The hazard index of aggregate risk through consumption of wheat grains was 2.3–2.4 for rural inhabitants and 1.4–1.5 for urban inhabitants. The average intake of inorganic As for rural inhabitants in Huaibei was above 10 μg day−1. These findings indicated that the inhabitants around the coal mine are experiencing a significant potential health risk due to the consumption of locally grown wheat.
- Subjects :
- China
Health, Toxicology and Mutagenesis
chemistry.chemical_element
Risk Assessment
Arsenic
Toxicology
Soil
Metals, Heavy
Environmental Chemistry
Humans
Soil Pollutants
Coal
Triticum
business.industry
Coal mining
Environmental engineering
food and beverages
Soil chemistry
Soil classification
Agriculture
General Medicine
Environmental Exposure
Contamination
Pollution
Soil contamination
Coal Mining
Diet
Zinc
chemistry
Soil water
Environmental science
business
Copper
Subjects
Details
- ISSN :
- 16147499
- Volume :
- 20
- Issue :
- 12
- Database :
- OpenAIRE
- Journal :
- Environmental science and pollution research international
- Accession number :
- edsair.doi.dedup.....607a6646eb1a00b08dfc97fe17c6c281