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Contamination and Health Risk Assessment of Heavy Metals in the Soil of Major Cities in Mongolia

Author

Listed:
  • Sonomdagva Chonokhuu

    (Department of Environment and Forest Engineering, School of Engineering and Applied Science, National University of Mongolia, Ulaanbaatar 210646, Mongolia)

  • Chultem Batbold

    (Department of Environment and Forest Engineering, School of Engineering and Applied Science, National University of Mongolia, Ulaanbaatar 210646, Mongolia)

  • Byambatseren Chuluunpurev

    (Department of Environment and Forest Engineering, School of Engineering and Applied Science, National University of Mongolia, Ulaanbaatar 210646, Mongolia)

  • Enkhchimeg Battsengel

    (Department of Transdisciplinary Science and Engineering, School of Environment and Society, Tokyo Institute of Technology, Tokyo 145-0066, Japan)

  • Batsuren Dorjsuren

    (Department of Environment and Forest Engineering, School of Engineering and Applied Science, National University of Mongolia, Ulaanbaatar 210646, Mongolia)

  • Batdelger Byambaa

    (Department of Environment and Forest Engineering, School of Engineering and Applied Science, National University of Mongolia, Ulaanbaatar 210646, Mongolia)

Abstract

Using the case of Ulaanbaatar, Erdenet, and Darkhan cities from Mongolia, the study aimed to assess the contamination level and health risk assessment of heavy metals (As, Cr, Pb, Ni, and Zn) in urban soil. A total of 78 samples was collected from a variety of functional areas. The geoaccumulation index (I geo ) and integrated pollution index (IPI) were used in pollution assessment, while the health risk was scored using a hazard quotient ( HQ ) and health index (HI) for non-carcinogenic heavy metals, as well as a lifetime average daily dose ( LADD ) for carcinogenic heavy metals. The results show that the concentration of heavy metals in the soil samples taken from Darkhan city, which presented “uncontaminated” values in terms of I geo for all metals, was relatively lower than other cities within the contamination assessment. Furthermore, the I geo value signified “uncontimated to heavily contaminated” soil in the Ulaanbaatar and Erdenet cities. Typically, as for the IPI that observed similar trends with I geo , the mean IPI values in Ulaanbaatar, Erdenet, and Darkhan were 1.33 (moderate level of pollution), 1.83 (moderate level of pollution), and 0.94 (low level of pollution), respectively. In terms of the assessment of potential health risk, there was a particular or different level of ingestion, dermal contact, and inhalation exposure pathway for human health. Among these three different pathways, the ingestion was estimated by the main contributor for health risk. Each value of HQ and HI indicated that soil heavy metals of studied cities were at a safe level (<1) or had the absence of a significant health risk there. In addition, the potential health risk for children was greater than for adults, where heavy metal values of HI for children had a high value compared to adults. We estimated carcinogenic risks through the inhalation exposure, and as a result, there were no significant risks for human health in the studied cities from three elements (As, Cr, and Ni).

Suggested Citation

  • Sonomdagva Chonokhuu & Chultem Batbold & Byambatseren Chuluunpurev & Enkhchimeg Battsengel & Batsuren Dorjsuren & Batdelger Byambaa, 2019. "Contamination and Health Risk Assessment of Heavy Metals in the Soil of Major Cities in Mongolia," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(14), pages 1-15, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:16:y:2019:i:14:p:2552-:d:249155
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Tiejun Wang & Xiaoyu Wang & Wei Tian & Lunguang Yao & Yadong Li & Zhaojin Chen & Hui Han, 2020. "Screening of Heavy Metal-Immobilizing Bacteria and Its Effect on Reducing Cd 2+ and Pb 2+ Concentrations in Water Spinach ( Ipomoea aquatic Forsk.)," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(9), pages 1-16, April.
    2. Liang Xiao & Yong Zhou & He Huang & Yu-Jie Liu & Ke Li & Meng-Yao Li & Yang Tian & Fei Wu, 2020. "Application of Geostatistical Analysis and Random Forest for Source Analysis and Human Health Risk Assessment of Potentially Toxic Elements (PTEs) in Arable Land Soil," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(24), pages 1-19, December.
    3. Jaskaran Kaur & Sartaj Ahmad Bhat & Navdeep Singh & Sandip Singh Bhatti & Varinder Kaur & Jatinder Kaur Katnoria, 2022. "Assessment of the Heavy Metal Contamination of Roadside Soils Alongside Buddha Nullah, Ludhiana, (Punjab) India," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(3), pages 1-24, January.
    4. Huanhuan Shi & Min Zeng & Hongxia Peng & Changsheng Huang & Huimin Sun & Qingqin Hou & Pengcheng Pi, 2022. "Health Risk Assessment of Heavy Metals in Groundwater of Hainan Island Using the Monte Carlo Simulation Coupled with the APCS/MLR Model," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(13), pages 1-18, June.
    5. Xiaowei Xu & Jing Hua & Houhu Zhang & Zehua Zhao & Yi Wang & Dapeng Zhang & Jun Zhang & Xiaoxi Chen, 2021. "Environmental Risk Assessment of Recycled Products of Spent Coppery Etchant in Jiangsu Province, China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(15), pages 1-9, July.
    6. Zigang Li & Peng Wang & Xiaoyu Yue & Jingtao Wang & Baozeng Ren & Lingbo Qu & Hui Han, 2019. "Effects of Bacillus thuringiensis HC-2 Combined with Biochar on the Growth and Cd and Pb Accumulation of Radish in a Heavy Metal-Contaminated Farmland under Field Conditions," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(19), pages 1-15, September.

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