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Cadmium in agricultural soils, vegetables and rice and potential health risk in vicinity of Dabaoshan Mine in Shaoguan, China

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Abstract

Soil cadmium (Cd) contamination resulted from mining and smelting is a major environmental concern, and health risk associated with Cd exposure to multi-media through muti-pathway is increasing. Cd concentrations in soils, vegetables and paddy rice were investigated, and potential non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic health risks exposure to Cd were estimated at six villages around the Dabaoshan Mine, South China. A total of 87 soil samples were found to exceed the China’s maximum permission level (MPL) for Cd, while the highest value of 4.42 mg/kg was found near irrigation ditch associated with Hengshi River in Xinyi (XY) Village. Cd contents in vegetables and rice exceeded the maximum permissible concentration by more than five times in every village. Cadmium accumulation in plants is in the order of celery > lactuca sativa L > Chinese cabbage > Romaine lettuce > asparagus lettuce > mustard > cabbage mustard > cabbage. The mean hazard quotient (HQ) of all villages is in the range of [5.29, 25.75], and the mean values of cancer risk for investigated areas are more than 10 times greater than the USEPA (2009) threshold limit value of 10−4. Moreover, human non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic risks are mainly attributable to paddy rice intake, followed by vegetables intake, soil ingestion, inhalation, and dermal contact. The results indicate that Cd has a huge potential risk on human health for the local residents.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. South China Institute of Environmental Sciences, Ministry of Environmental Protection, Guangzhou, 510655, China

    Zhen-xing Wang  (王振兴), Xi-bang Hu  (胡习邦), Zhen-cheng Xu  (许振成), Li-mei Cai  (蔡立梅), Jun-neng Wang  (王俊能), Dong Zeng  (曾东) & Hong-jia Hong  (洪鸿加)

  2. School of Earth Environment and Water Resource, Yangtze University, Wuhan, 430100, China

    Li-mei Cai  (蔡立梅)

Authors
  1. Zhen-xing Wang  (王振兴)
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  2. Xi-bang Hu  (胡习邦)
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  3. Zhen-cheng Xu  (许振成)
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  4. Li-mei Cai  (蔡立梅)
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  5. Jun-neng Wang  (王俊能)
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  6. Dong Zeng  (曾东)
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  7. Hong-jia Hong  (洪鸿加)
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Zhen-cheng Xu  (许振成).

Additional information

Foundation item: Project(51204074) supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China; Projects(2010009017, 201209048, ZX021-201106-031) supported by the National Environmental Protection Public Welfare Industry Targeted Research Fund, China

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Wang, Zx., Hu, Xb., Xu, Zc. et al. Cadmium in agricultural soils, vegetables and rice and potential health risk in vicinity of Dabaoshan Mine in Shaoguan, China. J. Cent. South Univ. 21, 2004–2010 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11771-014-2149-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11771-014-2149-3

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