AUTHOR=Cui Wengang , Mei Yan , Liu Suihua , Zhang Xinding 

TITLE=Health risk assessment of heavy metal pollution and its sources in agricultural soils near Hongfeng Lake in the mining area of Guizhou Province, China

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Public Health

VOLUME=Volume 11 - 2023

YEAR=2023

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/public-health/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2023.1276925

DOI=10.3389/fpubh.2023.1276925

ISSN=2296-2565

ABSTRACT=Hongfeng Lake and agricultural and human activities, soil heavy metal pollution has become severe. Therefore, this study refined soil types to evaluate the heavy metal pollution status, human health risks from heavy metal contents and pollution sources of agricultural soils in this lake.The results show that all five elements exceeded the background values of soil heavy metals. The single-factor pollution of each element was Hg > As > Pb > Cr > Cd, with Hg being the main pollutant factor. The entire area had a mild pollution level according to the pollution index.Pollution source analysis indicated two main pollution sources. Hg, As, Pb and Cr pollution was mainly from Source 1 (industrial and natural activities), accounting for 71.99%, 51.57%, 67.39% and 68.36%, respectively. Cd pollution was mainly attributed to Source 2 (agricultural pollution source), contributing 84.12%. The health risk assessment model shows that heavy metals posed acceptable carcinogenic risks to humans rather than non-carcinogenic risks. As was the main non-carcinogenic risk factor, while Cr was the main carcinogenic risk factor, with higher risks in children than adults.