Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Integrated Geochemical and Mineralogical Investigation of Soil from the Volcanic Fogo Island (Cape Verde): Implications for Ecological and Probabilistic Human Health Risks

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Exposure and Health Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Volcanic regions are associated with increased environmental and human health risks due to elevated concentrations of potentially toxic elements (PTEs). Fogo Island, Cape Verde, experienced recent volcanic eruptions, which raised the questions around the potential for local soils to pose such risks. In order to better understand the relationships between local mineralogy and geochemistry, and environmental and probabilistic human health risks, we (i) present the distribution of selected PTEs based on 136 soil samples, (ii) determine major associations between minerals and geological units based on a principal component analysis, (iii) calculate the potential ecological risk index and potential ecological risk and (iv) model human health risks based Monte Carlo simulations. The soils overlaying the older units yield higher contents of secondary minerals, with relative enrichment is some PTEs. The soils covering more recent units are enriched with primary minerals and show elevated concentrations of Pb. The results show that (i) As, Pb, Cd and Hg pose considerable to very high ecological risks, (ii) metal(oid)s are unlikely to cause a non-carcinogenic health risk, although As may pose a cancer risk for children. This research also provides health and environmental authorities with a toll to manage such risks.

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
Fig. 8
Fig. 9

Similar content being viewed by others

Data Availability

Enquiries about data availability should be directed to the authors

References

  • Ajsuvakova OP, Tinkov AA, Aschner M, Rocha JB, Michalke B, Skalnaya MG et al (2020) Sulfhydryl groups as targets of mercury toxicity. Coord Chem Rev 417:213343

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Barletta M, Lima AR, Costa MF (2019) Distribution, sources and consequences of nutrients, persistent organic pollutants, metals and microplastics in South American estuaries. Sci Total Environ 651:1199–1218

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Baxter MG, Chiba AA (1999) Cognitive functions of the basal forebrain. Curr Opin Neurobiol 9(2):178–183

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Beyersmann D, Hartwig A (2008) Carcinogenic metal compounds: recent insight into molecular and cellular mechanisms. Arch Toxicol 82(8):493–512

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Cabral Pinto M, Ferreira da Silva EA (2019) Heavy Metals of Santiago Island (Cape Verde) alluvial deposits: baseline value maps and human health risk assessment. Int J Environ Res Public Health 16(1):2

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cabral Pinto M, Silva M, Ferreira da Silva EA, Marinho-Reis AP (2017) The cancer and non-cancer risk of Santiago Island (Cape Verde) population due to potential toxic elements exposure from soils. Geosciences 7(3):78

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cabral Pinto M, Marinho-Reis P, Almeida A, Pinto E, Neves O, Inácio M et al (2019) Links between cognitive status and trace element levels in hair for an environmentally exposed population: a case study in the surroundings of the estarreja industrial area. Int J Environ Res Public Health 16(22):4560

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cabral-Pinto MMS, Silva MM, da Silva EAF, Dinis PA, Rocha F (2017) Transfer processes of potentially toxic elements (PTE) from rocks to soils and the origin of PTE in soils: a case study on the island of Santiago (Cape Verde). J Geochem Explor 183:140–151

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Cabral-Pinto MMC, Marinho-Reis AP, Almeida A, Freitas S, Simões MR, Diniz ML et al (2019) Fingernail trace element content in environmentally exposed individuals and its influence on their cognitive status in ageing. Exposure Health 11(3):181–194

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Cabral-Pinto MMS, Ordens CM, de Melo MTC, Inácio M, Almeida A, Pinto E, da Silva EAF (2020a) An inter-disciplinary approach to evaluate human health risks due to long-term exposure to contaminated groundwater near a chemical complex. Exposure Health 12(2):199–214

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Cabral-Pinto MM, Inácio M, Neves O, Almeida AA, Pinto E, Oliveiros B, da Silva EAF (2020) Human health risk assessment due to agricultural activities and crop consumption in the surroundings of an industrial area. Exposure Health 12(4):629–640

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Cabral Pinto et al. (2021) Weathering on volcanic edifices under semi-arid climates. Insights from a regional assessment of Fogo Island regoliths composition (Cape Verde) Geological Society of London; In press

  • Cabral-Pinto MCS, da Silva EF, Silva MMVG, Melo-Gonçalves P (2015) Heavy metals of Santiago Island (Cape Verde) top soils: Estimated background value maps and

  • Campbell KM, Nordstrom DK (2014) Arsenic speciation and sorption in natural environments. Rev Mineral Geochem 79(1):185–216

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Capriello T, Félix LM, Monteiro SM, Santos D, Cofone R, Ferrandino I (2021) Exposure to aluminium causes behavioural alterations and oxidative stress in the brain of adult zebrafish. Environ Toxicol Pharmacol 85:103636

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Chabukdhara M, Nema AK (2013) Heavy metals assessment in urban soil around industrial clusters in Ghaziabad, India: probabilistic health risk approach. Ecotoxicol Environ Saf 87:57–64

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Courtney RC, White RS (1986) Anomalous heat flow and geoid across the Cape Verde Rise: evidence for dynamic support from a thermal plume in the mantle. Geophys J Int 87(3):815–867

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Darnley AG, Bjorklund A, Bolviken B, Gustavsson N, Koval PV, UK, JP, et al. (1995). A global geochemical database. Recommendations for international geochemical mapping. Final report of IGCP project, 259

  • De Grosbois D (2012) Corporate social responsibility reporting by the global hotel industry: commitment, initiatives and performance. Int J Hosp Manage 31(3):896–905

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • De Miguel E, Iribarren I, Chacon E, Ordonez A, Charlesworth S (2007) Risk-based evaluation of the exposure of children to trace elements in playgrounds in Madrid (Spain). Chemosphere 66:505–513

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dinis PA, Pinto MMC, Garzanti E, Rocha FT (2019) Detrital record of the denudation of volcanic islands under sub-tropical climate (Cape Verde). Geochemistry 79(2):235–246

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Doležalová Weissmannová H, Mihočová S, Chovanec P, Pavlovský J (2019) Potential ecological risk and human health risk assessment of heavy metal pollution in industrial affected soils by coal mining and metallurgy in Ostrava, Czech Republic. Int J Environ Res Public Health 16(22):4495

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Duncan RA (1981) Hotspots in the southern oceans—an absolute frame of reference for motion of the Gondwana continents. Tectonophysics 74(1–2):29–42

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Duntas LH, Doumas C (2009) The ‘rings of fire’and thyroid cancer. Hormones 8(4):249–253

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Foeken JP, Day S, Stuart FM (2009) Cosmogenic 3He exposure dating of the Quaternary basalts from Fogo, Cape Verdes: implications for rift zone and magmatic reorganisation. Quat Geochronol 4(1):37–49

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hassanin KM, Abd El-Kawi SH, Hashem KS (2013) The prospective protective effect of selenium nanoparticles against chromium-induced oxidative and cellular damage in rat thyroid. Int J Nanomed 8:1713

    Google Scholar 

  • Hillier S (2003) Clay mineralogy. Encyclopedia of sediments and sedimentary rocks. Kluwer Academic Publishers, Dordrecht, pp 139–142

    Google Scholar 

  • Holm PM, Grandvuinet T, Friis J, Wilson JR, Barker AK, Plesner S (2008) An 40Ar–39Ar study of the Cape Verde hot spot: Temporal evolution in a semistationary plate environment. J Geophys Res Solid Earth 113(B8):B08201

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hong YS, Song KH, Chung JY (2014) Health effects of chronic arsenic exposure. J Prev Med Public Health 47(5):245

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hueper WC (1959) Carcinogenic studies on water-soluble and insoluble macromolecules. Arch Pathol 67(6):589–617

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hull EA, Barajas M, Burkart KA, Fung SR, Jackson BP, Barrett PM et al (2021) Human health risk from consumption of aquatic species in arsenic-contaminated shallow urban lakes. Sci Tot Environ 770:145318

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kabir AU, Subramanian M, Lee DH, Wang X, Krchma K, Wu J et al (2021) Dual role of endothelial Myct1 in tumor angiogenesis and tumor immunity. Sci Transl Med. https://doi.org/10.1126/scitranslmed.abb6731

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Keane WM, Atkins JP Jr, Wetmore R, Vidas M (1981) Epidemiology of head and neck cancer. Laryngoscope 91(12):2037–2045

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Khanam R, Kumar A, Nayak AK, Shahid M, Tripathi R, Vijayakumar S et al (2020) Metal (loid) s (As, Hg, Se, Pb and Cd) in paddy soil: Bioavailability and potential risk to human health. Sci Tot Environ 699:134330

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Khlifi R, Olmedo P, Gil F, Feki-Tounsi M, Chakroun A, Rebai A, Hamza-Chaffai A (2013) Blood nickel and chromium levels in association with smoking and occupational exposure among head and neck cancer patients in Tunisia. Environ Sci Pollut Res 20(11):8282–8294

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kumar A, Kumar A, Cabral-Pinto MMS, Chaturvedi AK, Shabnam AA, Subrahmanyam G, Mondal R et al (2020) Lead toxicity: health hazards, influence on food chain, and sustainable remediation approaches. Int J Environ Res Public Health 17(7):2179

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kumar A, Cabral Pinto M, Candeias C, Dinis PA (2021) Baseline maps of potentially toxic elements on soils of Garhwal Himalaya, India: assessment of their eco-environmental and human health risks. Land Degrad Dev. https://doi.org/10.1002/ldr.3984

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kumar A, Subrahmanyam G, Mondal R, Cabral-Pinto MMS, Shabnam AA, Jigyasu DK et al (2021) Bio-remediation approaches for allviation of cadmium contamination in natural resources. Chemosphere 268:128855

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Le Bas TP, Masson DG, Holtom RT, Grevemeyer I (2007) Slope failures of the flanks of the southern Cape Verde Islands. Submarine mass movements and their consequences. Springer, Dordrecht, pp 337–345

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Le Pera E, Morrone C, Arribas J, Arribas ME, Ancochea E, Huertas MJ (2021) Petrography and provenance of beach sands from volcanic oceanic islands: Cabo Verde, Atlantic Ocean. J Sediment Res 9:92–115

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Maanan M, Saddik M, Maanan M, Chaibi M, Assobhei O, Zourarah B (2015) Environmental and ecological risk assessment of heavy metals in sediments of Nador lagoon, Morocco. Ecol Ind 48:616–626

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Macdonald JC, Isom DC, Evans DD, Page KJ (2021) Digital innovation in medicinal product regulatory submission, review, and approvals to create a dynamic regulatory ecosystem—are we ready for a revolution? Front Med. https://doi.org/10.3389/fmed.2021.660808

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Madeira J, Brum da Silveira A, Mata J, Mourão C, Martins S (2008) The role of mass movements on the geomorphologic evolution of Island Volcanoes: Exam-ples from Fogo and Brava in the Cape Verde Archipelago. Comun Geol 95:93–106

    Google Scholar 

  • Malandrino P, Pellegriti G, Attard M, Violi MA, Giordano C, Sciacca L et al (2013a) Papillary thyroid microcarcinomas: a comparative study of the characteristics and risk factors at presentation in two cancer registries. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 98(4):1427–1434

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Malandrino P, Scollo C, Marturano I, Russo M, Tavarelli M, Attard M, Richiusa P, Violi MA, Dardanoni G, Vigneri R et al (2013b) Descriptive epidemiology of human thyroid cancer: experience from a regional registry and the “volcanic factor.” Front Endocrinol 4:65

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Marques et al. (2014) Catena 113: 95–106

  • Mata J, Martins S, Mattielli N, Madeira J, Faria B, Ramalho RS et al (2017) The 2014–15 eruption and the short-term geochemical evolution of the Fogo volcano (Cape Verde): evidence for small-scale mantle heterogeneity. Lithos 288:91–107

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • McBride MB (2003) Toxic metals in sewage sludge-amended soils: has promotion of beneficial use discounted the risks? Adv Environ Res 8(1):5–19

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Mezzaroba L, Alfieri DF, Simão ANC, Reiche EMV (2019) The role of zinc, copper, manganese and iron in neurodegenerative diseases. Neurotoxicology 74:230–241

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Mohammed AS, Kapri A, Goel R (2011) Heavy metal pollution: source, impact, and remedies. Biomanagement of Metal-Contaminated Soils. Springer, Dordrecht, pp 1–28

    Google Scholar 

  • Moore DM, Reynolds RC (1997) X-ray diffraction and the identification and analysis of clay minerals. Oxford Univ. Press, Oxford

    Google Scholar 

  • Mota Gomes A (2006) A problemática da Geologia e dos Recursos Hídricos na Ilha doFogo. Relatório inédito, Praia, Cabo Verde.105R

  • Navarro-Sempere A, Segovia Y, Rodrigues AS, Garcia PV, Camarinho R, Garcia M (2021) First record on mercury accumulation in mice brain living in active volcanic environments: a cytochemical approach. Environ Geochem Health 43(1):171–183

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Olehowski C, Naumann S, Fischer D, Siegmund A (2008) Geo-ecological spatial pattern analysis of the island of Fogo (Cape Verde). Global Planet Change 64(3–4):188–197

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pelegriti G, De Vathaire F, Scollo C, Attard M, Giordano C, Arena S et al (2009) Papillary thyroid cancer incidence in the volcanic area of Sicily. JNCI J Natl Cancer Inst 101(22):1575–1583

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pellegriti G, De Vathaire F, Scollo C, Attard M, Giordano C, Arena S, Dardanoni G, Frasca F, Malandrino P, Vermiglio F et al (2009) Papillary thyroid cancer incidence in the volcanic area of Sicily. J Natl Cancer Inst 101:1575–1583

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Pinto MMC, Silva MMVG, Neiva AM (2008) Geochemistry of U-bearing minerals from the Vale de Abrutiga uranium mine area, Central Portugal. Neues Jahrbuch Mineralogie 185:183–198

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Pollitz FF (1991) Two-stage model of African absolute motion during the last 30 million years. Tectonophysics 194(1–2):91–106

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Prasad S, Yadav KK, Kumar S, Gupta N, Cabral-Pinto MM, Rezania S et al (2021) Chromium contamination and effect on environmental health and its remediation: a sustainable approaches. J Environ Manage 285:12174

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pyle DM, Mather TA (2003) The importance of volcanic emissions for the global atmospheric mercury cycle. Atmos Environ 37(36):5115–5124

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ramalho R, Helffrich G, Cosca M, Vance D, Hoffmann D, Schmidt DN (2010) Episodic swell growth inferred from variable uplift of the Cape Verde hotspot islands. Nat Geosci 3(11):774–777

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ramalho, R. A. (2011). Building the cape verde Islands. Springer Science & Business Media.

  • Ravanfar P, Loi SM, Syeda WT, Van Rheenen TE, Bush AI, Desmond P et al (2021) Systematic review: quantitative susceptibility mapping (QSM) of brain iron profile in neurodegenerative diseases. Front Neurosci 15:41

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Saha N, Rahman MS, Ahmed MB, Zhou JL, Ngo HH, Guo W (2017) Industrial metal pollution in water and probabilistic assessment of human health risk. J Environ Manage 185:70–78

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sánchez-Moreno M, Gómez-Contreras F, Navarro P, Marín C, Ramírez-Macías I, Olmo F et al (2012) In vitro leishmanicidal activity of imidazole-or pyrazole-based benzo [g] phthalazine derivatives against Leishmania infantum and Leishmania braziliensis species. J Antimicrob Chemother 67(2):387–397

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sheng J, Wang X, Gong P, Tian L, Yao T (2012) Heavy metals of the Tibetan top soils. Environ Sci Pollut Res 19(8):3362–3370

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Silva MMVG, Cabral-Pinto MMS, Dinis P (2021) Geochemistry of subtropical arenosols from Kuito region (Angola). Urbanization effects and environmental implications. Journal of African Earth Sciences 104307

  • Simonart T (2006) Role of environmental factors in the pathogenesis of classic and African-endemic Kaposi sarcoma. Cancer Lett 244(1):1–7

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Stimac J, Hickmott D, Abell R, Larocque AC, Broxton D, Gardner J et al (1996) Redistribution of Pb and other volatile trace metals during eruption, devitrification, and vapor-phase crystallization of the Bandelier Tuff, New Mexico. J Volcanol Geoth Res 73(3–4):245–266

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • USEPA (United States Environmental Protection Agency) (2009) Risk Assessment Guidance for Superfund (RAGS), Volume I, Human Health Evaluation Manual (Part E, Supplemental Guidance for Dermal Risk Assessment). https://www.epa.gov/risk/risk-assessment-guidance-superfund-rags-part-f.

  • USEPA (2001) Risk assessment guidance for superfund (RAGS), vol III—Part A, process for conducting probabilistic risk assessment, Office of emergency and remedial response, Washington, DC. Vol.14, No. 4

  • Vigneri R, Malandrino P, Giani F, Russo M, Vigneri P (2017) Heavy metals in the volcanic environment and thyroid cancer. Mol Cell Endocrinol 457:73–80

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wu S, Nguyen TA, Liu Y, Southam G, Wang S, Chan TS et al (2019) Deficiencies of secondary Fe (oxy) hydroxides associated with phyllosilicates and organic carbon limit the formation of water-stable aggregates in Fe-ore tailings. Chem Geol 523:73–87

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Xu X, Hu X, Wang T, Sun M, Wang L, Zhang L (2021) Non-inverted U-shaped challenges to regional sustainability: the health risk of soil heavy metals in coastal China. J Clean Prod 279:23746

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Funding

The funding was provided by Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia,UIDB/04035/2020.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Geobiotec Centre, Department of Geosciences, University of Aveiro, Campus de Santiago, 3810-193, Aveiro, Portugal

    Marina MS Cabral-Pinto, Denise Pitta-Grós, Gelson Carlos, Rosa Marques, Isabel Prudêncio, Fernando Rocha & Eduardo A Ferreira da Silva

  2. Centre for Mined Land Rehabilitation, Sustainable Minerals Institute, The University 12 of Queensland, St Lucia, Brisbane, Queensland, 4072, Australia

    Narottam Saha

  3. Centre for Water in the Minerals Industry, Sustainable Minerals Institute, The 14 University of Queensland, St Lucia, Brisbane, Queensland, 4072, Australia

    C. M. Ordens

  4. Department of Earth Sciences, University of Coimbra, Marine and Environmental Sciences Centre (MARE), Rua Sílvio Lima, 3030-790, Coimbra, Portugal

    Pedro Dinis

  5. Centro de Ciências e Tecnologias Nucleares (C2TN), Departamento de Engenharia e Ciências Nucleares (DECN), Instituto Superior Técnico, University of Lisbon, EN 10 (km 139.7), 2695‑066, Bobadela, Portugal

    Rosa Marques & Isabel Prudêncio

Authors
  1. Marina MS Cabral-Pinto
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Narottam Saha
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. C. M. Ordens
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Denise Pitta-Grós
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Gelson Carlos
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Pedro Dinis
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. Rosa Marques
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  8. Isabel Prudêncio
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  9. Fernando Rocha
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  10. Eduardo A Ferreira da Silva
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Marina MS Cabral-Pinto.

Ethics declarations

Conflict of interest

The authors have not disclosed any 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 23 kb)

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Cabral-Pinto, M.M., Saha, N., Ordens, C.M. et al. Integrated Geochemical and Mineralogical Investigation of Soil from the Volcanic Fogo Island (Cape Verde): Implications for Ecological and Probabilistic Human Health Risks. Expo Health 15, 1–17 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12403-022-00472-6

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12403-022-00472-6

Keywords

Search

Navigation