Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Ecological and health risk assessment of heavy metals in agricultural soils from northern China

  • Research
  • Published:
Environmental Monitoring and Assessment Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Soil pollution by heavy metals can cause continuing damage to ecosystems and the human body. In this study, we collected nine fresh topsoil samples and 18 maize samples (including nine leaf samples and nine corn samples) from agricultural soils in the Baiyin mining areas. The results showed that the order of heavy metal concentrations (mg/kg) in agricultural soils was as follows: Zn (377.40) > Pb (125.06) > Cu (75.06) > Ni (28.29) > Cd (5.46) > Hg (0.37). Cd, Cu, Zn, and Pb exceeded the Chinese risk limit for agricultural soil pollution. The average the pollution load index (4.39) was greater than 3, indicating a heavy contamination level. The element that contributed the most to contamination and high ecological risk in soil was Cd. Principal component analysis (PCA) and Pearson’s correlation analysis indicated that the sources of Ni, Cd, Cu, and Zn in the soil were primarily mixed, involving both industrial and agricultural activities, whereas the sources of Hg and Pb included both industrial and transportation activities. Adults and children are not likely to experience non-carcinogenic impacts from the soil in this region. Nonetheless, it was important to be aware of the elevated cancer risk presented by Cd, Pb, and especially Ni. The exceedance rates of Cd and Pb in corn were 66.67% and 33.3%, respectively. The results of this research provide data to improve soil protection, human health monitoring, and crop management in the Baiyin district.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7

Similar content being viewed by others

Data availability

Data supporting the findings of this study are available in this article and its Supplementary Information, or from the corresponding author on request.

References

  • Adimalla, N. (2020). Heavy metals pollution assessment and its associated human health risk evaluation of urban soils from Indian cities: A review. Environmental Geochemistry and Health, 42(1), 173–190. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10653-019-00324-4

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Affum, A. O., Osae, S. D., Kwaansa-Ansah, E. E., & Miyittah, M. K. (2020). Quality assessment and potential health risk of heavy metals in leafy and non-leafy vegetables irrigated with groundwater and municipal-waste-dominated stream in the Western Region, Ghana. Heliyon, 6(12). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2020.e05829

  • Ahmad, W., Alharthy, R. D., Zubair, M., Ahmed, M., Hameed, A., & Rafique, S. (2021). Toxic and heavy metals contamination assessment in soil and water to evaluate human health risk. Scientific Reports, 11(1). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-94616-4

  • Ahmed, T., Noman, M., Rizwan, M., Ali, S., Shahid, M. S., & Li, B. (2023). Recent progress on the heavy metals ameliorating potential of engineered nanomaterials in rice paddy: A comprehensive outlook on global food safety with nanotoxicitiy issues. Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition, 63(16), 2672–2686. https://doi.org/10.1080/10408398.2021.1979931

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Al-Taani, A. A., Nazzal, Y., Howari, F. M., Iqbal, J., Bou Orm, N., Xavier, C. M., Barbulescu, A., Sharma, M., & Dumitriu, C. S. (2021). Contamination assessment of heavy metals in agricultural soil, in the Liwa Area (UAE). Toxics, 9(3). https://doi.org/10.3390/toxics9030053

  • Aladesanmi, O. T., Oroboade, J. G., Osisiogu, C. P., & Osewole, A. O. (2019). Bioaccumulation factor of selected heavy metals in Zea mays. J Health Pollut, 9(24), 191207. https://doi.org/10.5696/2156-9614-9.24.191207

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Alharbi, B. H., Pasha, M. J., Alotaibi, M. D., Alduwais, A. K., & Al-Shamsi, M. A. S. (2020). Contamination and risk levels of metals associated with urban street dust in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Environmental Science and Pollution Research International, 27(15), 18475–18487. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-020-08362-7

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Asaiduli, H., Abliz, A., Abulizi, A., Sun, X., & Ye, P. (2023). Assessment of soil heavy metal pollution and health risks in different functional areas on the Northern Slope of the Eastern Tianshan Mountains in Xinjiang, NW China. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 20(6). https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20064843

  • Atikpo, E., Okonofua, E. S., Uwadia, N. O., & Michael, A. (2021). Health risks connected with ingestion of vegetables harvested from heavy metals contaminated farms in Western Nigeria. Heliyon, 7(8), Article e07716. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2021.e07716

  • Baltas, H., Sirin, M., Gokbayrak, E., & Ozcelik, A. E. (2020). A case study on pollution and a human health risk assessment of heavy metals in agricultural soils around Sinop province, Turkey. Chemosphere, 241. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2019.125015

  • Behrooz, R. D., Kaskaoutis, D. G., Grivas, G., & Mihalopoulos, N. (2021). Human health risk assessment for toxic elements in the extreme ambient dust conditions observed in Sistan, Iran. Chemosphere, 262. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2020.127835

  • Cai, L. M., Wang, Q. S., Wen, H. H., Luo, J., & Wang, S. (2019). Heavy metals in agricultural soils from a typical township in Guangdong Province, China: Occurrences and spatial distribution. Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety, 168, 184–191. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecoenv.2018.10.092

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Cao, C., Chen, X. P., Ma, Z. B., Jia, H. H., & Wang, J. J. (2016). Greenhouse cultivationmitigates metal-ingestion-associated health risks from vegetables in wastewater-irrigated agroecosystems. Science of the Total Environment, 560, 204–211. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2016.04.044

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Cao, X. H., Li, W., Song, S., Wang, C. C., & Khan, K. (2023). Source apportionment and risk assessment of soil heavy metals around a key drinking water source area in northern China: Multivariate statistical analysis approach. Environmental Geochemistry and Health, 45(2), 343–357. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10653-022-01251-7

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Castle, S. E., Miller, D. C., Ordonez, P. J., Baylis, K., & Hughes, K. (2021). The impacts of agroforestry interventions on agricultural productivity, ecosystem services, and human well-being in low- and middle-income countries: A systematic review. Campbell Systematic Reviews, 17(2), e1167. https://doi.org/10.1002/cl2.1167

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chen, H., Wu, D., Wang, Q., Fang, L., Wang, Y., Zhan, C., Zhang, J., Zhang, S., Cao, J., Qi, S., & Liu, S. (2022). The predominant sources of heavy metals in different types of fugitive dust determined by principal component analysis (PCA) and positive matrix factorization (PMF) modeling in southeast Hubei: A typical mining and metallurgy area in central China. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19(20). https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph192013227

  • Chen, H. R., Wang, L., Hu, B. F., Xu, J. M., & Liu, X. M. (2022). Potential driving forces and probabilistic health risks of heavy metal accumulation in the soils from an e-waste area, southeast China. Chemosphere, 289, Article 133182. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2021.133182

  • Din, I. U., Muhammad, S., & Rehman, I. U. (2022). Heavy metal(loid)s contaminations in soils of Pakistan: A review for the evaluation of human and ecological risks assessment and spatial distribution. Environmental Geochemistry and Healthhttps://doi.org/10.1007/s10653-022-01312-x

  • Din, I. U., Muhammad, S., & Rehman, I. U. (2023). Heavy metal(loid)s contaminations in soils of Pakistan: A review for the evaluation of human and ecological risks assessment and spatial distribution. Environmental Geochemistry and Health, 45(5), 1991–2012. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10653-022-01312-x

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Doabi, S. A., Karami, M., Afyuni, M., & Yeganeh, M. (2018). Pollution and health risk assessment of heavy metals in agricultural soil, atmospheric dust and major food crops in Kermanshah province Iran. Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety, 163, 153–164. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecoenv.2018.07.057

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Du, H. M., & Lu, X. W. (2022). Contamination and probabilistic ecological-health risk of heavy metal(loid)s in urban topsoil of Mianyang, SW China. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19(22). https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph192215126

  • Du, S. H., Meng, L. J., Xu, W. Y., Zhao, Q. Y., Zhao, H. Y., Ma, T. Y., Wu, S. Y., & Zhang, W. J. (2023). Ecological risks and sensitivity distribution of soil heavy metals in Altay Prefecture, Xinjiang, Northwest China. Journal of Soils and Sediments. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11368-023-03552-5

  • El Hosry, L., Sok, N., Richa, R., Al Mashtoub, L., Cayot, P., & Bou-Maroun, E. (2023). Sample preparation and analytical techniques in the determination of trace elements in food: A review. Foods, 12(4). 10.3390/foods12040895

  • Fei, X. F., Lou, Z. H., Xiao, R., Ren, Z. Q., & Lv, X. N. (2022). Source analysis and source-oriented risk assessment of heavy metal pollution in agricultural soils of different cultivated land qualities. Journal of Cleaner Production, 341. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2022.130942

  • Feng, W. L., Guo, Z. H., Xiao, X., Peng, C., Shi, L., Ran, H. Z., & Xu, W. X. (2019). Atmospheric deposition as a source of cadmium and lead to soil-rice system and associated risk assessment. Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety, 180, 160–167. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecoenv.2019.04.090

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Forghani Tehrani, G., Rubinos, D. A., Kelm, U., & Ghadimi, S. (2023). Environmental and human health risks of potentially harmful elements in mining-impacted soils: A case study of the Angouran Zn-Pb Mine Iran. Journal of Environmental Management, 334, 117470. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2023.117470

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Guendouzi, Y., Boulahdid, M., Hacene, O. R., Inal, A., Boudjellal, B., & Fowler, S. W. (2021). Contamination level and ecological risk assessment of particulate trace metals in Southwestern Mediterranean Sea. Regional Studies in Marine Science, 46. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rsma.2021.101876

  • Guo, G., Chen, S., Lei, M., Wang, L., Yang, J., & Qiao, P. (2023a). Spatiotemporal distribution characteristics of potentially toxic elements in agricultural soils across China and associated health risks and driving mechanism. Science of the Total Environment, 887, 163897. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.163897

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Guo, G. H., Wang, Y. T., Zhang, D. G., Li, K., & Lei, M. (2023b). Human health risk apportionment from potential sources of heavy metals in agricultural soils and associated uncertainty analysis. Environmental Geochemistry and Health, 45(3), 881–897. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10653-022-01243-7

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Guo, X., Li, S., Zhang, Y., Wu, B., & Guo, W. (2022). Applications of dynamic simulation for source analysis of soil pollutants based on atmospheric diffusion and deposition model. Science of the Total Environment, 839, 156057. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.156057

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Han, J. L., Liang, L. C., Zhu, Y. R., Xu, X. H., Wang, L., Shang, L. H., Wu, P., Wu, Q. X., Qian, X. L., Qiu, G. L., & Feng, X. B. (2022). Heavy metal(loid)s in farmland soils on the Karst Plateau, Southwest China: An integrated analysis of geochemical baselines, source apportionment, and associated health risk. Land Degradation & Development, 33(10), 1689–1703. https://doi.org/10.1002/ldr.4257

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • He, B. H., Wang, W., Geng, R. Y., Ding, Z., Luo, D. X., Qiu, J. L., Zheng, G. D., & Fan, Q. H. (2021). Exploring the fate of heavy metals from mining and smelting activities in soil-crop system in Baiyin, NW China. Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety, 207, Article 111234. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecoenv.2020.111234

  • Hou, Y. R., Zhao, Y. Y., Lu, J. L., Wei, Q. Q., Zang, L. B., & Zhao, X. Y. (2023). Environmental contamination and health risk assessment of potentially toxic trace metal elements in soils near gold mines-A global meta-analysis. Environmental Pollution, 330. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2023.121803

  • Hu, R., Wang, Y., Zhang, X., Zhu, L., Luo, M., Liu, B., & Yuan, X. (2022). Sources and factors controlling the distribution of heavy metals in coastal sediments of Haiyang. China. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 175, 113152. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2021.113152

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Huang, D. W., Gui, H. R., Lin, M. L., & Peng, W. H. (2018). Chemical speciation distribution characteristics and ecological risk assessment of heavy metals in soil from Sunan mining area, Anhui Province China. Human and Ecological Risk Assessment, 24(6), 1694–1709. https://doi.org/10.1080/10807039.2017.1422973

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Huang, J. L., Wu, Y. Y., Sun, J. X., Li, X., Geng, X. L., Zhao, M. L., Sun, T., & Fan, Z. Q. (2021). Health risk assessment of heavy metal(loid)s in park soils of the largest megacity in China by using Monte Carlo simulation coupled with Positive matrix factorization model. Journal of Hazardous materials, 415. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhazmat.2021.125629

  • Huang, Z. T., Yi, S. W., Chen, B. B., Peng, R., Shi, X. F., & Li, F. (2022). Pollution properties and ecological risk assessment of heavy metals in farmland soils and crops around a typical manganese mining area. Huan Jing Ke Xue, 43(2), 975–984. https://doi.org/10.13227/j.hjkx.202105019

  • Ihedioha, J. N., Abugu, H. O., Ujam, O. T., & Ekere, N. R. (2021). Ecological and human health risk evaluation of potential toxic metals in paddy soil, rice plants, and rice grains (Oryza sativa) of Omor Rice Field, Nigeria. Environmental Monitoring and Assessment, 193(9), Article 620. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-021-09386-3

  • Jia, X. L., Fu, T. T., Hu, B. F., Shi, Z., Zhou, L. Q., & Zhu, Y. W. (2020). Identification of the potential risk areas for soil heavy metal pollution based on the source-sink theory. Journal of Hazardous materials, 393, Article 122424. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhazmat.2020.122424

  • Jiang, H. H., Cai, L. M., Wen, H. H., Hu, G. C., Chen, L. G., & Luo, J. (2020). An integrated approach to quantifying ecological and human health risks from different sources of soil heavy metals. Science of the Total Environment, 701, 134466. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.134466

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kaur, J., Bhat, S. A., Singh, N., Bhatti, S. S., Kaur, V., & Katnoria, J. K. (2022). Assessment of the heavy metal contamination of roadside soils alongside Buddha Nullah, Ludhiana, (Punjab) India. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19(3). https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19031596

  • Kolawole, T. O., Ajibade, O. M., Olajide-Kayode, J. O., & Fomba, K. W. (2022). Level, distribution, ecological, and human health risk assessment of heavy metals in soils and stream sediments around a used-automobile spare part market in Nigeria. Environmental Geochemistry and Healthhttps://doi.org/10.1007/s10653-022-01283-z

  • Li, C., Wang, H., Liao, X., Xiao, R., Liu, K., Bai, J., Li, B., & He, Q. (2022). Heavy metal pollution in coastal wetlands: A systematic review of studies globally over the past three decades. Journal of Hazardous Materials, 424(Pt A), 127312. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhazmat.2021.127312

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Li, D., Lu, Q., Cai, L. M., Chen, L. G., & Wang, H. Z. (2023). Characteristics of soil heavy metal pollution and health risk assessment in urban parks at a megacity of central China. Toxics, 11(3). https://doi.org/10.3390/toxics11030257

  • Li, H., Yao, J., Sunahara, G., Min, N., Li, C. C., & Duran, R. (2023). Quantifying ecological and human health risks of metal(loid)s pollution from non-ferrous metal mining and smelting activities in Southwest China. Science of the Total Environment, 873. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.162364

  • Li, X. L., Wu, Y., Leng, Y. Y., Xiu, D. H., Pei, N. S., Li, S., & Tian, Y. (2023). Risk assessment, spatial distribution, and source identification of heavy metals in surface soils in Zhijin County, Guizhou Province, China. Environmental Monitoring and Assessment, 195(1). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-022-10674-9

  • Li, Y. P., Wang, S. L., Nan, Z. R., Zang, F., Sun, H. L., Zhang, Q., Huang, W., & Bao, L. L. (2019). Accumulation, fractionation and health risk assessment of fluoride and heavy metals in soil-crop systems in northwest China. Science of the Total Environment, 663, 307–314. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.01.257

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Li, Y. P., Wang, S. L., Prete, D., Xue, S. Y., Nan, Z. R., Zang, F., & Qian, Z. (2017). Accumulation and interaction of fluoride and cadmium in the soil-wheat plant system from the wastewater irrigated soil of an oasis region in northwest China. Science of the Total Environment, 595, 344–351. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2017.03.288

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Liang, Q., Xue, Z. J., Wang, F., Sun, Z. M., Yang, Z. X., & Liu, S. Q. (2015). Contamination and health risks from heavy metals in cultivated soil in Zhangjiakou City of Hebei Province, China. Environmental Monitoring and Assessment, 187(12), Article 754. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-015-4955-y

  • Liang, W., Zhang, Z., Chi, H., & Ren, S. (2022). Preparation and optimization of the environmental dust suppressant with agricultural waste straw. Environmental Science and Pollution Research International, 29(7), 10198–10209. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-021-15546-2

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Liu, B. L., Ai, S. W., Zhang, W. Y., Huang, D. J., & Zhang, Y. M. (2017). Assessment of the bioavailability, bioaccessibility and transfer of heavy metals in the soil-grain-human systems near a mining and smelting area in NW China. Science of the Total Environment, 609, 822–829. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2017.07.215

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Liu, F., Yang, Z., Yang, R. H., Wang, R. F., & Zhou, J. H. (2022a). Migration characteristics and potential ecological environment evaluation of metal elements in surface soil. KSCE Journal of Civil Engineering, 26(5), 2068–2076. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12205-022-1422-5

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Liu, P., Wu, Q. M., Wang, X. K., Hu, W. Y., Liu, X. Y., Tian, K., Fan, Y. N., Xie, E. Z., Zhao, Y. C., Huang, B. A., Yoon, S. J., Kwon, B. O., & Khim, J. S. (2022). Spatiotemporal variation and sources of soil heavy metals along the lower reaches of Yangtze River, China. Chemosphere, 291. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2021.132768

  • Liu, Y., Wang, R. S., Zhao, T. N., Zhang, Y., Wang, J. H., Wu, H. X., & Hu, P. (2022). Source apportionment and health risk due to PM10 and TSP at the surface workings of an underground coal mine in the arid desert region of northwestern China. Science of the Total Environment, 803, Article 149901. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.149901

  • Lv, J. S. (2019). Multivariate receptor models and robust geostatistics to estimate source apportionment of heavy metals in soils. Environmental Pollution, 244, 72–83. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2018.09.147

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lv, L., Jiao, Z., Ge, S., Zhan, W., Ruan, X., & Wang, Y. (2022). Assessment of Cd pollution in paddy soil-rice system in silver mining-affected areas: Pollution status, transformation and health risk assessment. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19(19). https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph191912362

  • Ma, H. T., Mi, M. X., Wang, C. N., Wu, X. G., & Zhen, Z. L. (2023). The concentrations, sources, ecological, and human health risk assessment of heavy metals in roadside soils of six cities in Shanxi Province, China. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry. https://doi.org/10.1002/etc.5641

  • Mandour, A., El-Sayed, M. K., El-Gamal, A. A., Khadr, A. M., & Elshazly, A. (2021). Temporal distribution of trace metals pollution load index in the Nile Delta coastal surface sediments. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 167, 112290. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2021.112290

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Meng, Z. L., Bai, X. R., & Tang, X. L. (2022). Short-term assessment of heavy metals in surface water from xiaohe river irrigation area, China: Levels, sources and distribution. Water, 14(8). https://doi.org/10.3390/w14081273

  • Mirzabeygi, M., Abbasnia, A., Yunesian, M., Nodehi, R. N., Yousefi, N., Hadi, M., & Mahvi, A. H. (2017). Heavy metal contamination and health risk assessment in drinking water of Sistan and Baluchistan, Southeastern Iran. Human and Ecological Risk Assessment, 23(8), 1893–1905. https://doi.org/10.1080/10807039.2017.1322895

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Nag, R., & Cummins, E. (2022). Human health risk assessment of lead (Pb) through the environmental-food pathway. Science of the Total Environment, 810. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.151168

  • Neeraj, A., Hiranmai, R. Y., & Iqbal, K. (2023). Comprehensive assessment of pollution indices, sources apportionment and ecological risk mapping of heavy metals in agricultural soils of Raebareli District, Uttar Pradesh, India, employing a GIS approach. Land Degradation & Development, 34(1), 173–195. https://doi.org/10.1002/ldr.4451

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nematollahi, A., Abdi, L., Abdi-Moghadam, Z., Fakhri, Y., Borzoei, M., Tajdar-Oranj, B., Thai, V., Linh, N. T. T., & Khaneghah, A. M. (2021). The concentration of potentially toxic elements (PTEs) in sausages: A systematic review and meta-analysis study. Environmental Science and Pollution Research, 28(39), 55186–55201. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-021-14879-2

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Nozadi, F., Azadi, N., Mansouri, B., Tavakoli, T., & Mehrpour, O. (2021). Association between trace element concentrations in cancerous and non-cancerous tissues with the risk of gastrointestinal cancers in Eastern Iran. Environmental Science and Pollution Research, 28(44), 62530–62540. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-021-15224-3

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Okosa, I., Paul, T., Ikechukwu-Edeh, C. E., Ehiomogue, P., Emeka-Chris, C. C., & Okereke, A. C. (2023). Ecological and health risk assessment of heavy metals: A case study of residential waste sites in Umuahia, South-East Nigeria. Environmental Monitoring and Assessment, 195(3). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-023-10930-6

  • Ou, C. H., Zhu, X., Hu, L., Wu, X. X., Yu, W. X., & Wu, Y. Q. (2020). Source apportionment of soil contamination based on multivariate receptor and robust geostatistics in a typical rural urban area, Wuhan city, middle China. Open Chemistry, 18(1), 244–258. https://doi.org/10.1515/chem-2020-0020

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ozturk, A., & Arici, O. K. (2021). Carcinogenic-potential ecological risk assessment of soils and wheat in the eastern region of Konya (Turkey). Environmental Science and Pollution Research International, 28(12), 15471–15484. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-020-11697-w

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Pan, Y. W., Xie, J. W., Yan, W. X., Zhang, T. C., & Chen, C. J. (2022). Response of microbial community to different land-use types, nutrients and heavy metals in urban river sediment. Journal of Environmental Management, 321. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2022.115855

  • Panqing, Y., Abliz, A., Xiaoli, S., & Aisaiduli, H. (2023). Human health-risk assessment of heavy metal-contaminated soil based on Monte Carlo simulation. Scientific Reports, 13(1). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-33986-3

  • Qi, M. D., Wu, Y. J., Zhang, S., Li, G. Y., & An, T. C. (2023). Pollution profiles, source identification and health risk assessment of heavy metals in soil near a non-ferrous metal smelting plant. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 20(2). https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20021004

  • Rafiei, B., Ahmadi-Ghomi, F., Seif, A., Shakibaazad, A., Shamshiri, S., & Sharifi-Abzahli, Z. (2023). Contamination assessment and spatial distribution of heavy metals in the Sefidrud Delta coastal lagoons, Caspian Sea, N Iran. Environmental Monitoring and Assessment, 195(4). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-023-11096-x

  • Rahman, M., & Islam, M. A. (2019). Concentrations and health risk assessment of trace elements in cereals, fruits, and vegetables of Bangladesh. Biological Trace Element Research, 191(1), 243–253. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12011-018-1596-3

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ren, Y., Lin, M., Liu, Q., Zhang, Z., Fei, X., Xiao, R., & Lv, X. (2021). Contamination assessment, health risk evaluation, and source identification of heavy metals in the soil-rice system of typical agricultural regions on the southeast coast of China. Environmental Science and Pollution Research International, 28(10), 12870–12880. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-020-11229-6

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Rizvi, A., Ahmed, B., Khan, M. S., Rajput, V. D., Umar, S., Minkina, T., & Lee, J. (2022). Maize associated bacterial microbiome linked mitigation of heavy metal stress: A multidimensional detoxification approach. Environmental and Experimental Botany, 200. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envexpbot.2022.104911

  • Shaheen, M. E., Tawfik, W., Mankola, A. F., Gagnon, J. E., Fryer, B. J., & El-Mekawy, F. M. (2022). Assessment of contamination levels of heavy metals in the agricultural soils using ICP-OES. Soil & Sediment Contaminationhttps://doi.org/10.1080/15320383.2022.2123448

  • Sheng, Y., Wang, Z., & Feng, X. (2023). Potential ecological risk and zoning control strategies for heavy metals in soils surrounding core water sources: A case study from Danjiangkou Reservoir. China. Ecotoxicology and Environment Safety, 252, 114610. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecoenv.2023.114610

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sikakwe, G. U., Eyong, G. A., & Ilaomo, B. U. (2023). Contamination of arable soil with toxic trace elements (Tes) around mine sites and the assessment of associated human health risks. Soil & Sediment Contaminationhttps://doi.org/10.1080/15320383.2023.2172381

  • Silva-Gigante, M., Hinojosa-Reyes, L., Rosas-Castor, J. M., Quero-Jimenez, P. C., Pino-Sandoval, D. A., & Guzman-Mar, J. L. (2023). Heavy metals and metalloids accumulation in common beans (Phaseolus vulgaris L.): A review. Chemosphere, 335, 139010. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2023.139010

  • Soltani-Gerdefaramarzi, S., Ghasemi, M., & Gheysouri, M. (2021). Pollution, human health risk assessment and spatial distribution of toxic metals in urban soil of Yazd City Iran. Environmental Geochemistry and Health, 43(9), 3469–3484. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10653-021-00844-y

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sudarningsih, S., Fahruddin, F., Lailiyanto, M., Noer, A. A., Husain, S., Siregar, S. S., Wahyono, S. C., & Ridwan, I. (2023). Assessment of soil contamination by heavy metals: A case of vegetable production center in Banjarbaru Region, Indonesia. Polish Journal of Environmental Studies, 32(1), 249–257. https://doi.org/10.15244/pjoes/153074

  • Tholley, M. S., George, L. Y., Wang, G. H., Ullah, S., Qiao, Z. H., Ling, S. Y., Wu, J. H., Peng, C., & Zhang, W. (2023). Risk assessment and source apportionment of heavy metalloids from typical farmlands in China. Process Safety and Environmental Protection, 171, 109–118. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psep.2022.12.092

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wang, C. C., Zhang, Q. C., Kang, S. G., Li, M. Y., Zhang, M. Y., Xu, W. M., Xiang, P., & Ma, L. Q. (2023). Heavy metal(loid)s in agricultural soil from main grain production regions of China: Bioaccessibility and health risks to humans. Science of the Total Environment, 858. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.159819

  • Wang, C. C., Zhang, Q. C., Yan, C. A., Tang, G. Y., Zhang, M. Y., Ma, L. Q., Gu, R. H., & Xiang, P. (2023). Heavy metal(loid)s in agriculture soils, rice, and wheat across China: Status assessment and spatiotemporal analysis. Science of the Total Environment, 882. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.163361

  • Wang, F. F., Guan, Q. Y., Tian, J., Lin, J. K., Yang, Y. Y., Yang, L. Q., & Pan, N. H. (2020). Contamination characteristics, source apportionment, and health risk assessment of heavy metals in agricultural soil in the Hexi Corridor. Catena, 191. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.catena.2020.104573

  • Wang, H. Z., Cai, L. M., Wang, S., Hu, G. C., & Chen, L. G. (2021a). A comprehensive exploration on pollution characteristics and health risks of potentially toxic elements in indoor dust from a large Cu smelting area, Central China. Environmental Science and Pollution Research, 28(41), 57569–57581. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-021-14724-6

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wang, S., Cai, L. M., Wen, H. H., Luo, J., Wang, Q. S., & Liu, X. (2019). Spatial distribution and source apportionment of heavy metals in soil from a typical county-level city of Guangdong Province, China. Science of the Total Environment, 655, 92–101. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.11.244

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wang, S. Y., Wu, W. Y., Liu, F., Liao, R. K., & Hu, Y. Q. (2017). Accumulation of heavy metals in soil-crop systems: A review for wheat and corn. Environmental Science and Pollution Research, 24(18), 15209–15225. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-017-8909-5

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wang, W. Y., Song, W., Zhou, T., Wang, Z. Y., Christie, P., & Wu, L. H. (2021b). Soil metal immobilization in agricultural land contaminated with cadmium and lead: A case study of effectiveness evaluation in Lanping, Southwest China. Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology, 107(6), 1227–1235. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00128-021-03267-8

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wang, Y., Guo, G., Zhang, D., & Lei, M. (2021c). An integrated method for source apportionment of heavy metal(loid)s in agricultural soils and model uncertainty analysis. Environmental Pollution, 276, 116666. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2021.116666

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wang, Y. Z., Duan, X. J., & Wang, L. (2020). Spatial distribution and source analysis of heavy metals in soils influenced by industrial enterprise distribution: Case study in Jiangsu Province. Science of the Total Environment, 710. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.134953

  • Wang, Z., Bao, J. G., Wang, T., Moryani, H. T., Kang, W., Zheng, J., Zhan, C. L., & Xiao, W. S. (2021). Hazardous heavy metals accumulation and health risk assessment of different vegetable species in contaminated soils from a typical mining city, central China. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 18(5). https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18052617

  • Wei, M. C., Pan, A. F., Ma, R. Y., & Wang, H. (2023a). Distribution characteristics, source analysis and health risk assessment of heavy metals in farmland soil in Shiquan County, Shaanxi Province. Process Safety and Environmental Protection, 171, 225–237. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psep.2022.12.089

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wei, R. F., Meng, Z. R., Zerizghi, T., Luo, J., & Guo, Q. J. (2023). A comprehensive method of source apportionment and ecological risk assessment of soil heavy metals: A case study in Qingyuan city, China. Science of the Total Environment, 882. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.163555

  • Wu, Y. N., Wang, S. L., Xu, J., Long, S., & Nan, Z. R. (2023). Enrichment and distribution characteristics of heavy metal(loid)s in native plants of abandoned farmlands in sewage irrigation area. Environmental Science and Pollution Researchhttps://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-023-25810-2

  • Xie, T. Y., Shi, Z. M., Gao, Y. W., Tan, L., & Meng, L. (2021). Modeling analysis of the characteristics of selenium-rich soil in heavy metal high background area and its impact on main crops. Ecological Informatics, 66, Article 101420. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecoinf.2021.101420

  • Xu, J., Li, Y., Wang, S., Long, S., Wu, Y., & Chen, Z. (2023). Sources, transfers and the fate of heavy metals in soil-wheat systems: The case of lead (Pb)/zinc (Zn) smelting region. Journal of Hazardous Materials, 441, 129863. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhazmat.2022.129863

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Xuan, C., Jianfeng, Z., & Changshun, S. (2023). Characteristics and risk assessment of sewage sludge from urban wastewater treatment plants in Shaanxi Province, China. Environmental Monitoring and Assessment, 195(7). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-023-11420-5

  • Yang, W. X., Wang, D., Wang, M. K., Zhou, F., Huang, J., Xue, M. Y., Dinh, Q. T., & Liang, D. L. (2019). Heavy metals and associated health risk of wheat grain in a traditional cultivation area of Baoji, Shaanxi, China. Environmental Monitoring and Assessment, 191(7). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-019-7534-9

  • Yang, X., Cheng, B., Gao, Y., Zhang, H., & Liu, L. (2022a). Heavy metal contamination assessment and probabilistic health risks in soil and maize near coal mines. Frontiers in Public Health, 10, 1004579. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2022.1004579

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yang, X. J., Cheng, B. J., Gao, Y., Zhang, H. M., & Liu, L. P. (2022). Heavy metal contamination assessment and probabilistic health risks in soil and maize near coal mines. Frontiers in Public Health, 10. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2022.1004579

  • Yang, Z., Sui, H., Song, Y., Li, Y., Shao, H., & Wang, J. (2022c). Spatial distribution, sources and risk assessment of potentially toxic elements contamination in surface soils of Yellow River Delta China. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 184, 114213. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2022.114213

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zafarzadeh, A., Taghani, J. M., Toomaj, M. A., Ramavandi, B., Bonyadi, Z., & Sillanpaa, M. (2021). Assessment of the health risk and geo-accumulation of toxic metals in agricultural soil and wheat, northern Iran. Environmental Monitoring and Assessment, 193(11), 750. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-021-09530-z

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zang, F., Wang, S. L., Nan, Z. R., Ma, J. M., Zhang, Q., Chen, Y. Z., & Li, Y. P. (2017). Accumulation, spatio-temporal distribution, and risk assessment of heavy metals in the soil-corn system around a polymetallic mining area from the Loess Plateau, northwest China. Geoderma, 305, 188–196. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geoderma.2017.06.008

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zhang, H., Zhang, M., Wu, Y., Tang, J., Cheng, S., Wei, Y., & Liu, Y. (2021a). Risk sources quantitative appointment of ecological environment and human health in farmland soils: A case study on Jiuyuan District in China. Environmental Geochemistry and Health, 43(11), 4789–4803. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10653-021-00964-5

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zhang, H. W., Zhang, F., Song, J., Tan, M. L., Kung, H. T., & Johnson, V. C. (2021). Pollutant source, ecological and human health risks assessment of heavy metals in soils from coal mining areas in Xinjiang, China. Environmental Research, 202. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envres.2021.111702

  • Zhang, H. Y., Han, X., Wang, G. C., Mao, H. R., Chen, X. L., Zhou, L., Huang, D. D., Zhang, F., & Yan, X. (2023). Spatial distribution and driving factors of groundwater chemistry and pollution in an oil production region in the Northwest China. Science of the Total Environment, 875. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.162635

  • Zhang, Y., Dai, Y., Wang, Y., Huang, X., Xiao, Y., & Pei, Q. (2021c). Hydrochemistry, quality and potential health risk appraisal of nitrate enriched groundwater in the Nanchong area, southwestern China. Science of the Total Environment, 784, 147186. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.147186

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zhao, K., Bao, K., Yan, Y., Neupane, B., & Gao, C. (2022). Spatial distribution of potentially harmful trace elements and ecological risk assessment in Zhanjiang mangrove wetland South China. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 182, 114033. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2022.114033

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zhou, P., Zeng, D., Wang, X., Tai, L., Zhou, W., Zhuoma, Q., & Lin, F. (2022). Pollution levels and risk assessment of heavy metals in the soil of a landfill site: A case study in Lhasa, Tibet. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19(17). https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph191710704

  • Zhou, X. Y., & Wang, X. R. (2019). Impact of industrial activities on heavy metal contamination in soils in three major urban agglomerations of China. Journal of Cleaner Production, 230, 1–10. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2019.05.098

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zhuang, Z., Wang, Q. Q., Huang, S. Y., NinoSavala, A. G., Wan, Y. A., Li, H. F., Schweiger, A. H., Fangmeier, A., & Franzaring, J. (2023). Source-specific risk assessment for cadmium in wheat and maize: Towards an enrichment model for China. Journal of Environmental Sciences, 125, 723–734. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jes.2022.02.024

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Funding

This research was funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 32001125 and 81872578); the Gansu Provincial Natural Science Foundation (22JR5RA504), and the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities (lzujbky-2021–24).

Author information

Author notes

  1. Jiangyun Liu and Qiwen Zheng contributed equally to this work and share first authorship.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Public Health, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, Gansu, 730000, The People’s Republic of China

    Jiangyun Liu, Qiwen Zheng, Shuwei Pei, Jia Li, Li Ma, Li Zhang, Jingping Niu & Tian Tian

Authors
  1. Jiangyun Liu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Qiwen Zheng
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Shuwei Pei
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Jia Li
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Li Ma
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Li Zhang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. Jingping Niu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  8. Tian Tian
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Contributions

Jiangyun Liu: conceptualization, methodology, software, investigation, formal analysis, writing—original draft; Qiwen Zheng: conceptualization, methodology, software, investigation, formal analysis, writing—original draft; Shuwei Pei: data curation, writing—original draft; Jia Li: visualization, investigation, writing—review and editing; Li Ma: visualization, investigation, writing—review & editing; Li Zhang: resources, supervision, writing—review and editing; Jingping Niu: conceptualization, funding acquisition, resources, supervision, writing—review and editing; Tian Tian: conceptualization, funding acquisition, resources, supervision, writing—review and editing.

Corresponding authors

Correspondence to Jingping Niu or Tian Tian.

Ethics declarations

Declarations

All authors have read, understood, and have complied as applicable with the statement on “Ethical responsibilities of Authors” as found in the Instructions for Authors.

Competing interests

The authors declare no competing interests.

Additional information

Publisher's Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Supplementary Information

Below is the link to the electronic supplementary material.

Supplementary file1 (DOCX 21 kb)

Rights and permissions

Springer Nature or its licensor (e.g. a society or other partner) holds exclusive rights to this article under a publishing agreement with the author(s) or other rightsholder(s); author self-archiving of the accepted manuscript version of this article is solely governed by the terms of such publishing agreement and applicable law.

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Liu, J., Zheng, Q., Pei, S. et al. Ecological and health risk assessment of heavy metals in agricultural soils from northern China. Environ Monit Assess 196, 99 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-023-12255-w

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-023-12255-w

Keywords

Search

Navigation