Heavy metal pollution in water and soil and associated health risks in a tin mining region of Hunan Province, Central China

ABSTRACT: To assess the effect of mining activity on heavy metal pollution and associated health risks in tin mining regions, water and soil sampling was conducted near a tin mining site in Hunan Province. The content and distribution of heavy metals were determined. Pollution, ecological risks, and...

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Main Authors: Lan Wang, Jian-feng Li, Xiu-wen Liu, Li-xiao Feng
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: KeAi Communications Co., Ltd. 2025-04-01
Series:China Geology
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Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2096519225000722
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author Lan Wang
Jian-feng Li
Xiu-wen Liu
Li-xiao Feng
author_facet Lan Wang
Jian-feng Li
Xiu-wen Liu
Li-xiao Feng
author_sort Lan Wang
collection DOAJ
description ABSTRACT: To assess the effect of mining activity on heavy metal pollution and associated health risks in tin mining regions, water and soil sampling was conducted near a tin mining site in Hunan Province. The content and distribution of heavy metals were determined. Pollution, ecological risks, and potential health hazards were evaluated using the ground accumulation index, potential ecological risk index, and health risk assessment models, respectively. The results indicated elevated levels of heavy metals in water and soil samples compared to acceptable background values. Ground accumulation index assessment revealed extreme pollution of soil with As and Cd and moderate pollution with Cu, Pb, and Zn. Cr and Hg were categorized as non-pollutants. Water samples exhibited extreme pollution levels of Hg, Cr, Cd, and As; moderate pollution levels of Pb; and moderate to high pollution levels of Cu and Zn. The tin mining area demonstrated a significantly high level of potential ecological risk, where As and Cd were the primary risk elements in soil, whereas Cr, Cd, and As contributed predominantly to water ecological risk. The human health risk assessment highlighted As, Cd, Cr, Hg, Pb, and Cu in water and As and Pb in soil as the principal non-carcinogenic factors. The primary carcinogenic factors were As, Cr, and Cd in water and As in soil, with As posing the greatest risk for non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic effects. Furthermore, oral intake was the primary exposure route, with children being particularly vulnerable to the adverse effects of heavy metal pollution.
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institution Kabale University
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publishDate 2025-04-01
publisher KeAi Communications Co., Ltd.
record_format Article
series China Geology
spelling doaj-art-07a917999d064eb6a50ce9cc3d0f056d2025-08-20T03:32:58ZengKeAi Communications Co., Ltd.China Geology2589-94302025-04-018231432410.31035/cg2023141Heavy metal pollution in water and soil and associated health risks in a tin mining region of Hunan Province, Central ChinaLan Wang0Jian-feng Li1Xiu-wen Liu2Li-xiao Feng3School of Geography, Liaoning Normal University, Dalian 116029, ChinaCorresponding author; School of Geography, Liaoning Normal University, Dalian 116029, ChinaSchool of Geography, Liaoning Normal University, Dalian 116029, ChinaSchool of Geography, Liaoning Normal University, Dalian 116029, ChinaABSTRACT: To assess the effect of mining activity on heavy metal pollution and associated health risks in tin mining regions, water and soil sampling was conducted near a tin mining site in Hunan Province. The content and distribution of heavy metals were determined. Pollution, ecological risks, and potential health hazards were evaluated using the ground accumulation index, potential ecological risk index, and health risk assessment models, respectively. The results indicated elevated levels of heavy metals in water and soil samples compared to acceptable background values. Ground accumulation index assessment revealed extreme pollution of soil with As and Cd and moderate pollution with Cu, Pb, and Zn. Cr and Hg were categorized as non-pollutants. Water samples exhibited extreme pollution levels of Hg, Cr, Cd, and As; moderate pollution levels of Pb; and moderate to high pollution levels of Cu and Zn. The tin mining area demonstrated a significantly high level of potential ecological risk, where As and Cd were the primary risk elements in soil, whereas Cr, Cd, and As contributed predominantly to water ecological risk. The human health risk assessment highlighted As, Cd, Cr, Hg, Pb, and Cu in water and As and Pb in soil as the principal non-carcinogenic factors. The primary carcinogenic factors were As, Cr, and Cd in water and As in soil, with As posing the greatest risk for non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic effects. Furthermore, oral intake was the primary exposure route, with children being particularly vulnerable to the adverse effects of heavy metal pollution.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2096519225000722Tin mine areaHeavy metalEcological riskHealth risksPollution degreeRisk evaluation
spellingShingle Lan Wang
Jian-feng Li
Xiu-wen Liu
Li-xiao Feng
Heavy metal pollution in water and soil and associated health risks in a tin mining region of Hunan Province, Central China
China Geology
Tin mine area
Heavy metal
Ecological risk
Health risks
Pollution degree
Risk evaluation
title Heavy metal pollution in water and soil and associated health risks in a tin mining region of Hunan Province, Central China
title_full Heavy metal pollution in water and soil and associated health risks in a tin mining region of Hunan Province, Central China
title_fullStr Heavy metal pollution in water and soil and associated health risks in a tin mining region of Hunan Province, Central China
title_full_unstemmed Heavy metal pollution in water and soil and associated health risks in a tin mining region of Hunan Province, Central China
title_short Heavy metal pollution in water and soil and associated health risks in a tin mining region of Hunan Province, Central China
title_sort heavy metal pollution in water and soil and associated health risks in a tin mining region of hunan province central china
topic Tin mine area
Heavy metal
Ecological risk
Health risks
Pollution degree
Risk evaluation
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2096519225000722
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AT jianfengli heavymetalpollutioninwaterandsoilandassociatedhealthrisksinatinminingregionofhunanprovincecentralchina
AT xiuwenliu heavymetalpollutioninwaterandsoilandassociatedhealthrisksinatinminingregionofhunanprovincecentralchina
AT lixiaofeng heavymetalpollutioninwaterandsoilandassociatedhealthrisksinatinminingregionofhunanprovincecentralchina