Planetary health risks in urban agriculture

Urban agriculture is gaining recognition for its potential contributions to environmental resilience and climate change adaptation,providing advantages such as urban greening,reduced heat island effects,and decreased air pollution.Moreover,it indirectly supports communities during weather events and natural disasters,ensuring food security and fostering community cohesion.However,concerns about planetary health risks persist in highly urbanized and climate-affected areas.Employing electronic databases such as Web of Science and PubMed and adhering to Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines,we identified 55 relevant papers to comprehend the planetary health risks associated with urban agriculture,The literature review identified five distinct health risks related to urban agriculture:(1)trace metal risks in urban farms;(2)health risks associated with wastewater irrigation;(3)zoonotic risks;(4)other health risks;and(5)social and economic risks.The study highlights that urban agriculture,while emphasizing environmental benefits,particularly raises concerns about trace metal bioaccumulation in soil and vegetables,posing health risks for populations.Other well studied risks included wastewater irrigation and backyard livestock farming.The main limitations in the available literature were in studying infectious diseases and antibiotic resistance associated with urban agriculture.

Identifying the Hydrochemical Characteristics,Genetic Mechanisms and Potential Human Health Risks of Fluoride and Nitrate Enriched Groundwater in the Tongzhou District,Beijing,North China

Fluoride and nitrate enriched groundwater are potential threats to the safety of the groundwater supply that may cause significant effects on human health and public safety,especially in aggregated population areas and economic hubs.This study focuses on the high F^(−)and NO_(3)^(−)concentration groundwater in Tongzhou District,Beijing,North China.A total of 36 groundwater samples were collected to analyze the hydrochemical characteristics,elucidate genetic mechanisms and evaluate the potential human health risks.The results of the analysis indicate:Firstly,most of the groundwater samples are characterized by Mg-HCO_(3) and Na-HCO_(3) with the pH ranging from 7.19 to 8.28 and TDS with a large variation across the range 471-2337 mg/L.The NO_(3)^(−)concentration in 38.89%groundwater samples and the F^(−)concentration in 66.67%groundwater samples exceed the permissible limited value.Secondly,F^(−)in groundwater originates predominantly from water-rock interactions and the fluorite dissolution,which is also regulated by cation exchange,competitive adsorption of HCO_(3)−and an alkaline environment.Thirdly,the effect of sewage disposal and agricultural activities have a significant effect on high NO3-concentration,while the high F^(−)concentration is less influenced by anthropogenic activity.The alkaline environment favors nitrification,thus being conducive to the production of NO_(3)^(−).Finally,the health risk assessment is evaluated for different population groups.The results indicate that high NO_(3)^(−)and F^(−)concentration in groundwater would have the largest threat to children’s health.The findings of this study could contribute to the provision of a scientific basis for groundwater supply policy formulation relating to public health in Tongzhou District.

Physicochemical Properties and Health Risks of Informal E-Waste Processing at Alaba International Market in Lagos, Nigeria

This study investigated the groundwater quality and health risks associated with informal e-waste processing in the Alaba International Market in Lagos, Nigeria. Twenty-two groundwater samples were collected from hand-dug wells in the market area and analyzed for physicochemical properties and heavy metal concentrations. The results showed that the groundwater quality was poor, with high levels of heavy metals, including cadmium, lead, and chromium. The health index (HI) for children and adults was above the tolerable threshold levels, indicating a potential health risk to the population. Principal component analysis and hierarchical cluster analysis were used to identify the sources of metals in groundwater, and the results showed that informal e-waste processing was a significant source of contamination. The study highlights the need for effective management strategies to mitigate the potential health risks associated with informal e-waste processing and ensure public health and environmental safety.

Assessment of Health Risks Related to Contamination of Groundwater by Trace Metal Elements (Hg, Pb, Cd, As and Fe) in the Department of Zouan-Hounien (West Côte d’Ivoire)

In the department of Zouan-Hounien, gold mining is booming. This activity, marked by the excavation of rocks and the use of chemicals such as mercury, is likely to contaminate the region’s groundwater resources and expose populations to serious diseases. This study aims to assess the health risks associated with the consumption of this water by the population. To this end, 72 groundwater samples were taken in eight (08) villages of the department at the rate of forty-six (46) well water samples and twenty-six (26) borehole water samples. A total of twenty-twenty-three wells and thirteen boreholes were sampled during two campaigns. An atomic absorption spectrometer (AAS) was used to determine the concentrations of metallic trace elements (MTEs), such as mercury (Hg), lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), Arsenic (As), and iron (Fe) in the different samples. The daily exposure doses for oral ingestion (CDIing) and skin contact (Expderm) were calculated. The non-carcinogenic (HQ) and carcinogenic risks (CR) were estimated. The results show that the mean concentrations of Fe, Pb, Hg, As and Cd are respectively 2233.48 > 3.10 > 0.60 > 1.18 > 0.08 μg·L-1 in the wells and 2427.94 > 4.08 > 1.27 > 1.76 > 0.08 μg·L-1 in boreholes. Evaluating the risks to human health reveals that the mean values of hazard quotient (HQ) and cancer risk (CR) for all the elements in the wells and boreholes are lower than 1 and 10-4 respectively in children and adults for oral and dermal exposure. However, at the oral exposure level, 9 wells and 6 boreholes recorded HQ and CR above the defined critical limits. These values indicate that the occurrence of non-cancerous and cancerous diseases in populations consuming these waters by contamination with mercury and arsenic is not excluded. Dermal exposure to MTEs also poses no potential health risk to the population.

Groundwater arsenic poisoning in a primary educational institution:health risks to school-going children

This study aimed to estimate arsenic(As)and iron(Fe)content in tubewell water(n=58)in primary educational institutions and subsequently assess the health risks to school-going children.Results described that the As concentration ranged between 0.002 and 0.994 mg L^(-1)with an average value of 0.044 mg L^(-1);which exceeded the World Health Organization(WHO)provisional guideline value of 0.01 mg L^(-1).Similarly,the Fe content varied from 0.05 to 10 mg L^(-1)averaging to 2.84 mg L^(-1).Samples of 55.17%contained a greater As concentration than0.01 mg L^(-1)and 18.97%greater than Bangladesh drinking water quality(BDWQ)standard of 0.05 mg L^(-1),respectively.Meanwhile,75.86%of samples contained a higher Fe concentration than the maximum Bangladesh permissible limit of 1 mg L^(-1).Health risk assessment indicated that girls are more vulnerable than boys are.The average hazard quotients(HQs)for As intake through drinking water were 6.01±17.85 and 7.41±22.03 for boys and girls,respectively,implying non-carcinogenic health risks to both genders.The HQs for Fe intake were less than threshold value of 1 indicating no health issues may arise from Fe intake alone.However,consumption of As and Fe may trigger health risks to students as indicated by the hazard index(HI),which was higher than 1.The average cancer risk(CR)values for both boys(0.0027±0.008)and girls(0.0033±0.0099)exceeded the threshold limit of 10-6-10-4,suggesting a possibility of lifetime cancer risks to the school-going children.Consequently,school authorities should find alternative ways to ensure safe drinking water for school-going children to avoid possible cancer and non-cancer health risks through consumption of As-poisoning water.

Microbial Quality of Wastewater Used in Urban Truck Farming and Health Risks Issues in Developing Countries:Case Study of Ouagadougou in Burkina Faso

Urban truck farming in developing countries appears of great importance to overcome unemployment and poverty. However, the quality of wastewater used for such activity could expose populations to waterborne diseases. The microbial quality of wastewaters used for truck farming in Ouagadougou city, was examined for the presence of bacterial and parasitological fecal indicators during the dry-hot season (May) and the wet season (July) in 2012. The wastewaters of three water reservoirs and two canals intensively used for truck farming were analyzed throughout the study. These indicators were also monitored in waste stabilization ponds during wastewater treatment in 3 plants of the city. For all the selected sampling sites, the concentrations of microbial indicators in water were significantly higher in the dry-hot season compared to the wet one (p - 53,800 CFU/100ml for Escherichia coli, 8200 - 108,400 CFU/100ml for fecal coliforms, 650 - 45,000 CFU/100ml) for fecal streptococcus, and 0 - 2.4 eggs/l for helminthes during the study periods. For wastewater under treatment in waste stabilization ponds, significant microbial concentration drops (p 0.0001) in the range of 82% - 100%, 78% - 98%, 60% - 100% and 82% - 88%, respectively were recorded between the anaerobic and the maturation ponds. The later results highlighted that improving the refining performances of the waste stabilization ponds technology could help decreasing health risks related to wastewater reuse in urban agriculture for a sustainable development of cities in developing countries.

Evaluating the Health Risks of Pneumonia from Airborne Bacterial Communities Using 16S rDNA Sequences of Pneumonia-related Pathogens

Objective Airborne microbial communities include a significant number of uncultured and poorly characterized bacteria.No effective method currently exists to evaluate the health risks of such complex bacterial populations,particularly for pneumonia.Methods We developed a method to evaluate risks from airborne microorganisms,guided by the principle that closer evolutionary relationships reflect similar biological characteristics,and thus used16 S rDNA sequences of 10 common pneumonia-related bacterial pathogens.We calculated a risk of breath-related(Rbr)index of airborne bacterial communities and verified effectiveness with artificial flora and a clinical project.Results We suggested applying Rbr80 to evaluate the health risks of airborne bacterial communities that comprise 80% of dominant operational taxonomic units(OTUs).The feasibility of Rbr80 was confirmed by artificial flora and by pneumonia data from a hospital.A high Rbr80 value indicated a high risk of pneumonia from airborne bacterial communities.Conclusion Rbr80 is an effective index to evaluate the pneumonia-associated risk from airborne bacteria.Values of Rbr80 greater than 15.40 are considered high risk.

Effects of livestock and poultry breeding pollution on health risks:Evidence from a hog breeding case in rural China

With the rapid development of livestock and poultry breeding industries,pollution problems caused by the discharge of wastewater and manure have become increasingly severe.However,studies on the impacts of this pollution on rural residents'health are lacking.Based on data from the Peking University's China Family Panel Studies in 2010 and 2014,this paper uses a cross-sectional and panel data probit model to estimate the probability of breeding industry development in rural areas increasing the health risks of local villagers.First,the study found that the more households engaged in breeding in the region or the larger the scale of regional breeding,the higher the health risks to local villagers,particularly in areas where pigs are raised.Second,compared with individual farming,the greater the proportion of large-scale farming,the higher the health risks to villagers.Third,the development of the breeding industry seldom includes the ecological recycling of wastes and fails to reduce the use of local pesticides and fertilizers,thereby increasing the health risks to villagers.Therefore,this paper argues that providing technology to process breeding industry waste and establish an organic industrial production chain will be crucial to reducing the impact of breeding industry pollution on human health.

Vulnerability and everyday health risks of urban informal settlements in Sub-Saharan Africa

More than half of the world population lives in the cities and around one billion in poor urban areas.These numbers are projected to increase,while Sub-Saharan Africa is the region with the highest rate of informal settlements due his rapid urbanization.The urban informal settlements of Sub-Saharan Africa house everyday health risks.These risks have considerable cumulative impacts on the wellbeing and health of the urban vulnerable group.Despite the public health consequences of urbanization and the increase of informal settlements number in African cities,there is a paucity in data about the risks at small scale and the vulnerability in poor urban areas.Through the database search engine of MEDLINE,WHO Library and Information Networks for Knowledge and website of Urban Africa Risk Knowledge;from information of the existing literature,this paper tried to analyse the everyday health risks,and vulnerabilities in urban informal settlement in Sub-Saharan Africa region.A search combining keywords associated with health risks and informal settlement in Sub-Saharan Africa were used to identify the relevant documents,and this search yielded 86 articles,of which 15 met the criteria for inclusion in the analysis.The risks of communicable diseases due to inadequate sanitation have been the most frequent subjects of study.Informal settlers in Sub-Saharan Africa face everyday health risks arising from lack of clean water,adequate sanitation,and life in overcrowding houses.Consequently,there is a burden of communicable and non-communicable diseases,undernourishment and injuries.The most vulnerable group is children under five with a high rate of mortality.Everyday health risks in urban informal settlements must be taken into account for a better understanding of the full spectrum of urban risks.This is essential in the establishment of efficient public health policies and intervention in urban areas.

Legal response to environmental health risks in a risky society

The protection of public health is one of the legislative purposes of China’s environmental legal system.Article 39 of the Environmental Protection Law of the People’s Republic of China establishes an environmental and health risk assessment system.The health risk assessment system has biases in understanding,and it fails to face up to the functional transformation from the ex-post relief of environmental damage to the pre-prevention prevention of health risks in the environmental legal system;lack of a complete environmental and health legal system,unclear environmental and health risk assessment framework,and unclear environmental and health risk assessment frameworks.Health risk management capabilities need to be improved,there is a lack of specialized environmental and health risk assessment institutions,and there is a lack of supporting risk assessment technical standard system construction.It is necessary to combine practical experience with China’s national conditions and actual needs,construct an environmental health risk assessment system with Chinese characteristics from both the entity and the procedure,strengthen legislative support,and improve my country’s environmental and health laws on the basis of objective and scientific protection of the assessment process.Institutional system,establish a national environmental health risk assessment expert committee as soon as possible,improve my country’s environmental and health risk assessment framework,strengthen environmental and health management capacity building,improve the environmental and health risk assessment technical system,and promote the development of China’s environmental and health risk assessment system develop and give play to the institutional mission of safeguarding public health.

Spatial Investigation of Nilüfer Stream Arsenic Pollution in Previous and Post COVID-19 Pandemic and Evaluation of Health Risks for Adult People

This study was carried out in Nilüfer Stream in Bursa City,where intensive industrial,agricultural and mining activities are existed.The temporal and spatial variation of arsenic was evaluated by examining its concentrations between March 2015 and December 2021.Values between March 2015 and December 2019 were evaluated as pre-pandemic,and values between March 2020 and December 2021 were evaluated as post-pandemic.The results were compared with national and international standards and the chronic and cancer risks were calculated for adults.When the 7-year general averages were examined,it was seen that the highest concentration was 0.0256 mg/L at the 8th Station,and the lowest concentration was 0.0182 mg/L at the 1st Station.The reason why the highest value is at the 8th station was that the wastewater of Nilüfer and Bursa Organized Industrial Zones was discharged to Bursa West Wastewater Treatment Plant before this station.After the pandemic the raises in concentrations were observed at all stations,except for the 3rd Station.This shows that the pollution load had increased in general during the pandemic.However,it was estimated that there was a decrease in the pollution load of the industrial wastewater coming to the 3rd Station,which was located after the Eastern Wastewater Treatment Plant of the City.It was observed that all stations examined were higher than drinking water standards and lower than irrigation water standards according to WHO and Turkish National Standards.All measuring stations were greater than 1 of the hazard quotient(HQ)values.In terms of human consumption risk,all stations had a chronic and carcinogenic risk according to the values before and after the pandemic.After the pandemic conditions,the HQ order of the stations was 8>10>7>9>2>6>4>1>3.In general,post-pandemic HQ values had generally increased and the risk of cancer had increased.

Sources appointment and health risks of PM_(2.5)-bound trace elements in a coastal city of southeastern China

To gain a comprehensive understanding of sources and health risks of trace elements in an area of China with high population densities and low PM_(2.5)concentrations,15 trace elements(Al,K,Ca,Ti,V,Cr,Mn,Fe,Ni,Cu,Zn,As,Sn,Ba,Pb)in PM_(2.5)were monitored from December 2020 to November 2021 in a representative city,Xiamen.The concentrations of trace elements in Xiamen displayed an obvious seasonal variation and were dominated by K,Fe,Al,Ca and Zn.Based on Positive Matrix Factorization analysis,source appointment revealed that the major sources of trace elements in Xiamen were traffic,dust,biomass and firework combustion,industrial manufacture and shipping emission.According to health risk assessment combined with the source appointment results,it indicated that the average noncarcinogenic risk was below the threshold and cancer risk of four hazardous metals(Cr,Ni,As,Pb)exceeded the threshold(10^(-6)).Traffic-related source had almost half amount of contribution to the health risk induced by PM_(2.5)-bound trace elements.During the dust transport period or Spring Festival period,the health risks exceeded an acceptable threshold even an order of magnitude higher,suggesting that the serious health risks still existed in low PM_(2.5)environment at certain times.Health risk assessment reminded that the health risk reduction in PM_(2.5)at southeastern China should prioritize traffic-related hazardous trace elements and highlighted the importance of controlling vehicles emissions in the future.

Health risks of pest control and disinfection workers after the COVID-19 outbreak in South Korea

The exposure patterns of pest control and disinfection workers have changed after the coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19)outbreak,but the health risks of chemical exposure have not been assessed.We identified these workers’chemical exposure patterns and risks before and after the COVID-19 outbreak.We used data conducted between 2018(pre-pandemic)and 2021(post-pandemic)from three-year cross-sectional surveys on pest control and disinfection workers.Inhalation and dermal exposure concentrations were estimated using equations based on a biocidal product risk assessment model from the Korean National Institute of Environmental Research.The non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic risks of chemicals were calculated using the United States Environmental Protection Agency risk assessment model.We found that the annual work frequency(50^(th)percentile)of foggers using disinfectants increased the most among all the work types,from 140 uses/year to 176 uses/year after the COVID-19 outbreak.Moreover,all chemicals’non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic risks increased regardless of exposure routes.In the worst scenario(95^(th)percentile),the margin of exposure for citric acid,benzethonium chloride,benzyl-C12-16-alkyldimethyl chlorides,and sodium chlorite of inhalation exposure,and isopropyl alcohol and benzyl-C12-16-alkyldimethyl chlorides of dermal exposure were acceptable(>100)before the COVID-19outbreak but became unacceptable(<100)after the COVID-19 outbreak.Carcinogenic risks of dichlorvos from inhalation and dermal exposure were above acceptable levels(>10^(-6))before and after the COVID-19 outbreak but comparatively high after the COVID-19 outbreak.Additionally,significantly more workers experienced health symptoms after the COVID-19outbreak(p<0.05),with the most common being muscle lethargy(31%),skin/face stinging(28.7%),and breath shortness/neck pain(24.1%).

Legacies and health risks of heavy metals,polybrominated diphenyl ethers,and polychlorinated dibenzo-dioxins/furans at e-waste recycling sites in South China

Informal electronic-waste(e-waste)recycling sites pose substantial health risks to surrounding environments and populations,yet they are not properly regulated.In this study,the soil levels of copper,lead,cadmium,eight polybrominated diphenyl ethers(PBDEs),and 18 polychlorinated dibenzo-dioxins/furans(PCDD/Fs)were measured at two e-waste recycling sites in South China between 2014 and 2019.Both sites have been abandoned for natural restoration.Our results indicate that the mean Cd and PCDD/F levels at Site A in 2019 were higher than those recommended by current safety guidelines.Meanwhile,the highest exposure among children was 1.36×10^(−2)mg/(kg·d)for Cu,followed by 5.05×10^(−3)mg/(kg·d)for Pb,9.71 ng/(kg·d)for PBDEs,and 6.82 ng TEQ/(kg·d)for PCDD/Fs.Children were at elevated risk for health problem posed by Pb and Cu exposure at both sites(hazard quotient>1)and by PCDD/Fs at Site A.Further risk assessment was conducted on the target organs and endpoints of heavy metals and PCDD/Fs.The hazard index(HI)for the target organ mixed-risk of heavy metals was high(HI=1.27),as was that of PCDD/Fs(HI=1.66),which can disrupt endocrine function and pose a risk of reproductive toxicity in children.Owing to incomplete cleaning,contaminants persist in soils over long periods and may harm nearby environments and communities.Our study demonstrates that heavy metal,PBDE,and PCDD/F contamination have not yet been remediated,and intervention is needed to reduce pollution and associated risks in areas affected by e-waste.

Cultivars and oil extraction techniques affect Cd/Pb contents and health risks in oil of rapeseed grown on Cd/Pb-contaminated farmland

Substitute planting with rapeseed offers promise for safely using large areas of Cd/Pb-contaminated farmland.Cd/Pb distributions during rapeseed oil production were investigated and health risks posed by the oil were assessed.Tests were performed using three cultivars(Brassica rapa SYH and ZS100 and Brassica napus QY-1)and four oil extraction techniques(mechanical and low-temperature pressing and n-hexane and subcritical low-temperature butane extraction).The amounts of Cd and Pb in oil were 0.73%-8.44%and 3.14%-11.76%,respectively,of the amounts in rapeseed and were strongly affected by the cultivar and oil extraction technique.The heavy metal(HM)concentrations were lower in solvent-extracted oil(particularly subcritical low-temperature butane extracted oil,in which HMs were not detected)than mechanically pressed oil.The Cd and Pb transfer indices were lower(meaning larger proportions of HMs were retained by the rapeseed meal)for B.rapa than B.napus.This was attributed to a high HM binding protein content of B.rapa seed.Health risks to humans were assessed using a probabilistic risk assessment model.The carcinogenic risk was mainly(97.1%-99.9%)caused by Cd and poses more concern than non-carcinogenic risk.Stronger health risks are posed by mechanically pressed than solvent-extracted oil,and higher carcinogenic risks are posed to people living in rural areas than urban areas.Substitute planting with B.rapa and extracting oil with organic solvent(preferably subcritical low-temperature butane)are optimal for safely utilizing Cd/Pb-contaminated soil.Attention should be paid to the health risks posed by Cd in oil to rural populations.

Rapid increase in warm-wet compound extreme events with high health risks in southern China:Joint influence of ENSO and the Indian Ocean

High temperature and high humidity pose notable threats to the health and survival of humans,and the impact of compound extreme events involving multiple meteorological elements is usually greater than the sum of the impacts of individual extreme events.However,there is limited research on the compound extreme meteorological events,defined based on the extreme of health risks rather than just the extreme of meteoro-logical elements,necessitating further investigation into their characteristics and underlying driving factors.Using daily records of emergency ambulance dispatches from selected Chinese cities,together with daily average temperature and relative humidity data,this study identified and quantified warm-wet compound extreme events with high health risks(HRWWs)that occurred in southern China during 1979-2022.Results revealed that HRWWs were most prevalent in the coastal region of southern China.The annual frequency of HRWWs across China underwent a marked shift in 2014,with the rapid increase in recent years primarily contributed by the increase in summer HRWWs and advance and extension of the period of occurrence of HRWWs in summer.Further analysis indicated that the changes in HRWWs in southern China during summer were primarily regulated by the EIl Nino-Southern Oscillation(ENSO)of the preceding winter and the springtime Indian Ocean basin-wide(IOBW)mode.El Nino and Indian Ocean warming force a reverse Walker circulation in the tropical Indian Ocean-western Pacific,strengthening the Philippine anticyclone(PAC)in summer.This weakens convection in the northwestern Pacific and enables the western Pacific subtropical high to extend westward over coastal areas of southern China.The resulting abnormal atmospheric circulation causes prevailing subsidence over southern China,which is unfavorable for precipitation but conducive to maintaining high surface temperatures.Despite reduced precipitation,water vapor flux is increased owing to strengthened southwesterlies associated with the PAC that enhance regional humidity.Consequently,as temperature and humidity levels rise,HRWWs occur more frequently in southern China,as evidenced since 2014.Further analysis suggested that the contribution of intensification of IOBW warming to the sudden increase in HRWW occurrence over the past decade has been greater than that of ENSO.

Assessment of groundwater quantity, quality, and associated health risk of the Tano river basin, Ghana

In the Tano River Basin,groundwater serves as a crucial resource;however,its quantity and quality with regard to trace elements and microbiological loadings remain poorly understood due to the lack of groundwater logs and limited water research.This study presents a comprehensive analysis of the Tano River Basin,focusing on three key objectives.First,it investigated the aquifer hydraulic parameters and the results showed significant spatial variations in borehole depths,yields,transmissivity,hydraulic conductivity,and specific capacity.Deeper boreholes were concentrated in the northeastern and southeastern zones,while geological formations,particu-larly the Apollonian Formation,exhibit a strong influence on borehole yields.The study identified areas with high transmissivity and hydraulic conductivity in the southern and eastern regions,suggesting good groundwater avail-ability and suitability for sustainable water supply.Sec-ondly,the research investigated the groundwater quality and observed that the majority of borehole samples fall within WHO(Guidelines for Drinking-water Quality,Environmental Health Criteria,Geneva,2011,2017.http://www.who.int)limit.However,some samples have pH levels below the standards,although the groundwater generally qualifies as freshwater.The study further explores hydrochemical facies and health risk assessment,highlighting the dominance of Ca–HCO3 water type.Trace element analysis reveals minimal health risks from most elements,with chromium(Cr)as the primary contributor to chronic health risk.Overall,this study has provided a key insights into the Tano River Basin’s hydrogeology and associated health risks.The outcome of this research has contributed to the broader understanding of hydrogeologi-cal dynamics and the importance of managing groundwater resources sustainably in complex geological environments.

Health risk assessment of trace metal(loid)s in agricultural soils based on Monte Carlo simulation coupled with positive matrix factorization model in Chongqing, southwest China

This study aimed to investigate the pollution characteristics, source apportionment, and health risks associated with trace metal(loid)s(TMs) in the major agricultural producing areas in Chongqing, China. We analyzed the source apportionment and assessed the health risk of TMs in agricultural soils by using positive matrix factorization(PMF) model and health risk assessment(HRA) model based on Monte Carlo simulation. Meanwhile, we combined PMF and HRA models to explore the health risks of TMs in agricultural soils by different pollution sources to determine the priority control factors. Results showed that the average contents of cadmium(Cd), arsenic (As), lead(Pb), chromium(Cr), copper(Cu), nickel(Ni), and zinc(Zn) in the soil were found to be 0.26, 5.93, 27.14, 61.32, 23.81, 32.45, and 78.65 mg/kg, respectively. Spatial analysis and source apportionment analysis revealed that urban and industrial sources, agricultural sources, and natural sources accounted for 33.0%, 27.7%, and 39.3% of TM accumulation in the soil, respectively. In the HRA model based on Monte Carlo simulation, noncarcinogenic risks were deemed negligible(hazard index <1), the carcinogenic risks were at acceptable level(10^(-6)<total carcinogenic risk ≤ 10^(-4)), with higher risks observed for children compared to adults. The relationship between TMs, their sources, and health risks indicated that urban and industrial sources were primarily associated with As, contributing to 75.1% of carcinogenic risks and 55.7% of non-carcinogenic risks, making them the primary control factors. Meanwhile, agricultural sources were primarily linked to Cd and Pb, contributing to 13.1% of carcinogenic risks and 21.8% of non-carcinogenic risks, designating them as secondary control factors.

Characteristics,sources and health risks assessment of VOCs in Zhengzhou,China during haze pollution season

Zhengzhou is one of the most haze-polluted cities in Central China with high organic carbon emission,which accounts for 15%-20%of particulate matter(PM_(2.5))in winter and causes significantly adverse health effects.Volatile organic compounds(VOCs)are the precursors of secondary PM_(2.5)and O_(3)formation.An investigation of characteristics,sources and health risks assessment of VOCs was carried out at the urban area of Zhengzhou from 1^(st) to 31^(st) December,2019.The mean concentrations of total detected VOCs were 48.8±23.0 ppbv.Alkanes(22.0±10.4 ppbv),halocarbons(8.1±3.9 ppbv)and aromatics(6.5±3.9 ppbv)were the predominant VOC species,followed by alkenes(5.1±3.3 ppbv),oxygenated VOCs(3.6±1.8 ppbv),alkyne(3.5±1.9,ppbv)and sulfide(0.5±0.9 ppbv).The Positive Matrix Factorization model was used to identify and apportion VOCs sources.Five major sources of VOCs were identified as vehicular exhaust,industrial processes,combustion,fuel evaporation,and solvent use.The carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic risk values of species were calculated.The carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic risks of almost all air toxics increased during haze days.The total non-carcinogenic risks exceeded the acceptable ranges.Most VOC species posed no non-carcinogenic risk during three haze events.The carcinogenic risks of chloroform,1,2-dichloroethane,1,2-dibromoethane,benzyl chloride,hexachloro-1,3-butadiene,benzene and naphthalene were above the acceptable level(1.0×10^(-6))but below the tolerable risk level(1.0×10^(-4)).Industrial emission was the major contributor to non-carcinogenic,and solvent use was the major contributor to carcinogenic risks.

Heavy metal concentrations inLiza aurata(Risso,1810)captured from the Kerkennah Islands(Gulf of Gabes)and associated health risks

Objective:To determine the concentration of heavy metals(Cd,Cu,Fe,Ni,Pb and Zn)in the liver,gills and muscle of Liza aurata(L.aurata)collected from the Kerkennah Islands.The target hazard quotient was also used as an indicator of human health risks associated with fish consumption.Methods:The sample was collected from Kerkennah Islands(Gulf of Gabes,Tunisia).Heavy metals in L.aurata tissues(gills,liver and muscle)were analysed with an atomic absorption spectrometer(PerkinElmer).Results:As expected,muscle always possessed the lowest concentrations of all metals.The maximum concentrations of Cd(0.52 mg/kg wet weight),Cu(5.43 mg/kg wet weight),Fe(115.27mg/kg wet weight)and Zn(112.20 mg/kg wet weight)were measured in the liver,while the highest Ni(1.54 mg/kg wet weight)and Pb(1.43 mg/kg wet weight)were recorded in gills.The target hazard quotient through consumption of fish and calculated by adding the inividual target hazard quotient was below 1,indicating that there was no significant potential health risk associated with consumption of L.aurata.Conclusions:L.aurata from the Kerkennah Islands may be suitable for human consumption.