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A review of heavy metal pollution levels and health risk assessment of urban soils in Chinese cities

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Abstract

This study assessed literature-based data for the period 2006–2016 regarding heavy metal (As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Pb, Ni, Zn, and Hg) concentrations in soils from 32 Chinese cities and the associated human health risks. The mean concentrations of the eight metals were lower than the soil environmental quality standards in China, but were much higher than the background values for most cities. The enrichment factor (EF) and geoaccumulation index (I geo) values showed moderate pollution levels, possibly influenced by anthropogenic activity for Cd, Hg, Pb, and Zn. The pollution levels in eastern cities were much higher than those in western cities, and heavy metals concentrations in different types of cities followed the order: industrial based cities > more developed cities > metropoles > underdeveloped cities. The human health risk assessment for heavy metals in most cities indicated that non-carcinogenic risks were within threshold values (HI < 1). The total carcinogenic risk due to As, Cr, and Ni in most urban areas was in excess of 1 × 10−5, but was lower than 1 × 10−4. However, in some cities (e.g., Baoji City, Tiyuan City, and Xuzhou City), Ni and Cr have potential cancer risks for both adults and children. Compared to adults, children could be more seriously threatened by heavy metal contamination in soils. In general, we recommend that Cd, Hg, and Pb are selected as priority heavy metals pollutants that require control in Chinese cities.

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by the Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, State Key Laboratory of Environmental Criteria and Risk Assessment (201520 & 201542), and Agricultural Non-point Source Pollution Control and Management Center. Research funding was supported by the “National Key Research and Development Plan (2016YFD0800905) and (2016YFC0500904); the 12th Five-Year Plan Project of Science and Technology Support of China (2014BAD14B02)” program. We would like to thank all those who helped with this paper.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Agricultural Non-Point Source Pollution Control and Management Center, Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, Beijing, 100012, China

    Libo Pan, Yue Wang, Benying Su, Guangling Fang, Lei Wang & Bao Xiang

  2. State Key Laboratory of Environmental Criteria and Risk Assessment, Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, Beijing, 100012, China

    Libo Pan, Yue Wang, Jin Ma, Benying Su, Guangling Fang, Lei Wang & Bao Xiang

  3. College of Water Sciences, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, 100875, China

    Yu Hu

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  1. Libo Pan
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Correspondence to Bao Xiang.

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Pan, L., Wang, Y., Ma, J. et al. A review of heavy metal pollution levels and health risk assessment of urban soils in Chinese cities. Environ Sci Pollut Res 25, 1055–1069 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-017-0513-1

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