Environmental impact and site-specific human health risks of chromium in the vicinity of a ferro-alloy manufactory, China

► Chromium bioaccumulation in different species of vegetables. ► Site-specific health risk assessment of Cr(VI) by direct and indirect exposure method. ► Plant tissues are able to convert toxic Cr (VI) into non-toxic Cr (III). ► Chinese cabbage bio-accumulates high concentrations of Cr. ► Cancer risk...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of hazardous materials 2011-06, Vol.190 (1), p.980-985
Main Authors: Wang, Zhen-xing, Chen, Jian-qun, Chai, Li-yuan, Yang, Zhi-hui, Huang, Shun-hong, Zheng, Yu
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Alloys - chemical synthesis
Applied sciences
at-risk population
Biological and medical sciences
Brassica
breathing
Chemical engineering
China
Chinese cabbage
Chromium
Chromium - toxicity
Decontamination. Miscellaneous
direct contact
Environment
Environmental Exposure
Environmental Health
Environmental impact
Exact sciences and technology
exposure assessment
farming systems
Food engineering
Food industries
food intake
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
General aspects
Health
Health risk
heavy metals
Human
human health
Humans
indirect contact
Ingestion
Metallurgy - methods
plant tissues
Pollution
Risk
Safety
Soil (material)
Soil and sediments pollution
soil ingestion
Soil pollution
toxicity
Vegetable
Vegetables
Vegetables - chemistry
Vegetables - toxicity
Water soluble Cr (VI)
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Summary:► Chromium bioaccumulation in different species of vegetables. ► Site-specific health risk assessment of Cr(VI) by direct and indirect exposure method. ► Plant tissues are able to convert toxic Cr (VI) into non-toxic Cr (III). ► Chinese cabbage bio-accumulates high concentrations of Cr. ► Cancer risk of direct soil Cr (VI) exposure should be considered seriously. Previous studies often neglected the direct exposure to soil heavy metals in human health risk assessment. The purpose of this study was to assess the environmental impact and site-specific health risks of chromium (Cr) by both direct and indirect exposure assessment method. Results suggested that total Cr was shown a substantial buildup with a significant increase in the industrial and cultivated soils (averaged 1910 and 986 mg kg −1, respectively). The Cr contents of vegetables exceeded the maximum permissible concentration by more than four times in every case. Human exposure to Cr was mainly due to dietary food intake in farming locations and due to soil ingestion in both industrial and residential sites. Soil ingestion was the main contributor pathway for direct exposure, followed by inhalation, and then dermal contact. The highest risks of vegetable ingestion were associated with consumption of Chinese cabbage. The results also indicated that plant tissues are able to convert the potentially toxic Cr (VI) species into the non-toxic Cr (III) species. The analyses of human health risks indicated that an important portion of the population is at risk, especially in the industrial site.
ISSN:0304-3894
1873-3336
DOI:10.1016/j.jhazmat.2011.04.039