Human health risk assessment of metals and anions in surface water from a mineral coal region in Brazil

Coal mining releases high concentration elements to the environment, which can be deposited in surface water, causing several human health problems. Candiota mine in the south of Brazil is the largest coal reserves in the country, representing approximately 40% of total national coal reserves. There...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Environmental monitoring and assessment 2021-09, Vol.193 (9), Article 567
Main Authors: da Silva Bonifácio, Alicia, de Lima Brum, Rodrigo, Tavella, Ronan Adler, Ramires, Paula Florêncio, Lessa, Ingrid Medeiros, dos Santos, Marina, da Silva Júnior, Flavio Manoel Rodrigues
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Anions
Atmospheric Protection/Air Quality Control/Air Pollution
Cadmium
Carcinogens
Coal
Coal mines
Coal mining
Dosage
Earth and Environmental Science
Ecology
Ecotoxicology
Environment
Environmental Management
Environmental monitoring
Environmental science
Health problems
Health risk assessment
Health risks
Lead
Legislation
Metals
Monitoring/Environmental Analysis
Nickel
Potential resources
Quotients
Reserves
Risk assessment
Selenium
Surface water
Thermal energy
Thermal power
Water analysis
Water sampling
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Summary:Coal mining releases high concentration elements to the environment, which can be deposited in surface water, causing several human health problems. Candiota mine in the south of Brazil is the largest coal reserves in the country, representing approximately 40% of total national coal reserves. Therefore, the present study aimed to estimate the chronic daily dose and the non-carcinogenic risk index for metals and anions in surface waters of Candiota Region, using the USEPA protocols for Human Health Risk Assessment. A total of eight water samples were collected over a distance of up to 15 km from the emission sources of the thermal power generation companies, then the Chronic Daily Intake (CDI), Hazard Quotient (HQ), Hazard Index (HI), and sum of Hazard Index (ΣHI) were calculated. All the elements and anions evaluated showed natural concentrations for continental fresh waters according to Brazilian legislation, except Pb. Individually, none of the metals Pb, As, Cd, Ni, and Se or anions F − and NO 3 − showed an HI value greater than 1. However, the sum of HI (ΣHI) (five metals and two anions) by sample point showed values close to 1, for one of the eight points analyzed. Pb and Fe were the elements that most contribute to the risk values in the sample points of the study area. Although, there is no human health risk in this scenario, this investigation highlight priority elements to future investigations in coal mine areas. In the current region, Pb and F − as priority elements for future studies.
ISSN:0167-6369
1573-2959
DOI:10.1007/s10661-021-09359-6