Elucidating of potentially toxic elements contamination in topsoils around a copper smelter: Spatial distribution, partitioning and risk estimation

• Published in: Environmental geochemistry and health 2022-06, Vol.44 (6), p.1795-1811
• Main Authors: Aminiyan, Milad Mirzaei, Rahman, Mohammad Mahmudur, Rodríguez-Seijo, Andrés, Hajiali Begloo, Raziyeh, Cheraghi, Meysam, Aminiyan, Farzad Mirzaei
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Cadmium; Cadmium - analysis; Carcinogens; Chemical fractionation; Child; China; Chromium; Contamination; Copper; Copper - analysis; Copper - toxicity; Distribution; Earth and Environmental Science; Ecotoxicology; Emissions; Environment; Environmental Chemistry; Environmental hazards; Environmental Health; Environmental Monitoring - methods; Fractionation; Geochemistry; Health risks; Heavy metals; Humans; Lead; Lead - analysis; Lead - toxicity; Metallurgy; Metals, Heavy - analysis; Metals, Heavy - toxicity; Original Paper; Public Health; Risk Assessment; Smelters; Smelting; Soil - chemistry; Soil contamination; Soil Pollutants - analysis; Soil Pollutants - toxicity; Soil pollution; Soil Science & Conservation; Spatial analysis; Spatial distribution; Terrestrial Pollution; Topsoil; Toxic hazards; Zinc
• ISSN: 0269-4042; 1573-2983
• DOI: 10.1007/s10653-021-01057-z

Soil pollution by potentially toxic elements (PTEs) as one of the major environmental hazards is associated with metal exploration and refining acting. In this study, forty-five topsoil samples surrounding a copper smelter factory were taken and analysed using standard routine methods. The total concentration, chemical fractionation and the mobility potential of As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Pb and Zn were analysed. Additionally, the spatial distribution of PTEs, the potential ecotoxicological, and human health risks was assessed. The range of total Cu was 1478–4718 mg kg −1 , reaching up to 501.5, 21.6, 118.4, 573.5 and 943.3 mg kg −1 for total contents of As, Cd, Cr, Pb and Zn, respectively. The potentially available fractions after sequential extraction reveal all studied PTE were dramatically mobile and available in the studied area (86%, 69.3%, 59.5%, 87.2%, 84% and 68% for As, Cd, Cr, Pb, Zn and Cu, respectively), reflecting that the concentration and accumulation of these elements are profoundly affected or originated by smelting activities and deposition of atmospheric emissions of the Cu smelting factory. The spatial distribution of all PTEs indicated that concentrations of these element near the smelter Cu-factory were elevated. Accordingly, the ecotoxicology status of the studied area suggests that significantly high risks are posed by the measured PTEs. Non-carcinogenic effects of As, Pb and Cu were significantly much higher than the recommended value (HI = 1), suggesting that these three PTEs could adversely impact children's health. For adults, only the HI value of As was greater than one. Graphic abstract