The source-based health risk assessment of toxic elements in soils from coal resource-depleted city.

Abstract

A variety of anthropogenic activities have caused soils pollution with potentially toxic elements (PTEs) during the transformation of coal resource-exhausted areas, which pose potential health risks to humans. Take a typical Chinese coal resource-exhausted city as the research object, 93 topsoil samples were collected and PTEs concentrations were quantified using ICP-MS. The results indicated that the over-standard rates of Pb and Zn were 53.8% and 33.4%, respectively, with their elevated concentrations primarily concentrated in the southwestern part of the study area, likely due to complex industrial activities. Industrial activities (24.0%), road dust (24.1%), and copper smelting-natural weathering mixed source (22.4%) contribute relatively more to soil pollution. Moreover, industrial activities and road dusts were identified as the main risk sources, indicating that local stakeholders should take measures to control road traffic and industrial emissions.