Environmental and human health risks of potentially harmful elements in mining-impacted soils: A case study of the Angouran Zn–Pb Mine, Iran

• Published in: Journal of environmental management 2023-05, Vol.334, p.117470-117470, Article 117470
• Main Authors: Forghani Tehrani, Giti, Rubinos, David A., Kelm, Ursula, Ghadimi, Saideh
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Bioaccessibility, Angouran Mine, Iran; Blood; Cadmium; Child; China; Environmental Monitoring - methods; Health risk assessment; Humans; Iran; Lead; Metals, Heavy - analysis; Risk Assessment; Soil; Soil - chemistry; Soil Pollutants - analysis; Toxic elements; Zinc - analysis
• ISSN: 0301-4797; 1095-8630
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2023.117470

The soil pollution status, levels of exposure, and potential ecological and health risks to workers and residents by potentially harmful elements (PHEs) in the Angouran mining area (Iran), the biggest Zn–Pb mine in the Middle East, were studied. To this aim, topsoil (0–5 cm) samples (n = 63) from different land-uses were analyzed for their total PHEs concentrations. Mine worker's blood analysis and in vitro digestion extractions were applied in conjunction with human health risk assessment (HHRA) to assess the potential health impacts by exposure to PHEs. The maximum PHEs total concentrations were found in the soils near the waste rock dumps. HHRA indicated that ingestion of soils may induce a non-carcinogenic risk due to As and Pb (for both age groups of children and adults), while dermal contact for children may induce the same type of risk due to Cd, and Pb. The carcinogenic risks (CRs) of As, Cd, Cr, and Ni through ingestion route were above the acceptable value of 1 × 10−4, and children may face greater health risks. The average blood Zn, Pb, and Cd levels in the mine workers largely exceeded the safe concentration for adults, while 30% of the workers were tested positive for As in blood. In vitro digestion extractions indicated that the highest bioaccessible contents of As, Cd, Pb, Ni and Zn were found for the industrial-residential and mine soils in the area, while those of Cr and Cu were observed in the agricultural use soils. This study illustrates that a combination of techniques, including geochemical analysis, in vitro bioaccessibility extractions, HHRA, and blood analysis, is a workable integrated approach for evaluating pollution and health risks in mining districts. [Display omitted] •The soil pollution around the largest Zn–Pb mine of Middle East was studied.•The highest pollution degree was found in industrial-residential soils of the area.•Health risks of toxic elements were noticeable, especially for children.•The highest bioaccessibility of metals was found near smelters and waste dumps.•The blood metals levels in the mine workers exceeded the safe concentration.