395
Views
27
CrossRef citations to date
0
Altmetric
Articles

Heavy metal contamination and health risk assessment in soil-rice system near Xinqiao mine in Tongling city, Anhui province, China

, , , &
Pages 743-753 | Received 11 Sep 2017, Accepted 26 Oct 2017, Published online: 21 Dec 2017
 

ABSTRACT

In this study, paddy soil and rice grain samples were collected from the vicinity around the Xinqiao mine in Tongling, China to test for the presence of heavy metals (Cd, Ni, Cr, Cu, Zn, and Pb) in soil-rice system. Results indicated that the soil samples were primarily contaminated with Cd and Cu and followed with Zn and Pb. In rice grains, Cd, Cu, and Cr concentrations exceeded recommended guidelines. However, the regional distribution of heavy metals in rice grains and soil was inconsistent. The bioaccumulation factor of heavy metals in rice grains decreased in the order of Cd > Zn > Cu > Ni > Cr > Pb. The BAF was significantly positively correlated with TCLP-extractable metals and significantly negatively correlated with soil pH. However, the relationship between soil organic matter and the BAF in rice grains was complex. Health risk assessment through rice intake showed that hazard quotients of Cu and Cd were greater than 1 and could pose a considerable non-cancer health risk to adults and children; meanwhile, Cr, Ni, and Cd could pose an unacceptable cancer risk. The results indicated that the government must take measures to reduce heavy metal contents in paddy soil and rice.

Additional information

Funding

This research was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant 41371480) and Anhui Key Laboratory of Natural Disaster Process and Protection Research.

Reprints and Corporate Permissions

Please note: Selecting permissions does not provide access to the full text of the article, please see our help page How do I view content?

To request a reprint or corporate permissions for this article, please click on the relevant link below:

Academic Permissions

Please note: Selecting permissions does not provide access to the full text of the article, please see our help page How do I view content?

Obtain permissions instantly via Rightslink by clicking on the button below:

If you are unable to obtain permissions via Rightslink, please complete and submit this Permissions form. For more information, please visit our Permissions help page.