ORIGINAL RESEARCH
Ecological and Health Risk Assessment
of Potentially Toxic Elements in Soils
from Black Soil Region, Northeast China
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1
Harbin Center for Integrated Natural Resources Survey, China Geological Survey, Harbin 150086, P.R. China
2
Observation and Research Station of Earth Critical Zone in Black Soil, Harbin, Ministry
of Natural Resources 150086, P.R. China
3
Northeast Geologica S&T Innovation Center of China Geological Survey, Shenyang 110034, P.R. China
4
Shenyang Laboratory of national gemstone testing center, Shenyang 110034, P.R. China
Submission date: 2024-02-26
Final revision date: 2024-03-17
Acceptance date: 2024-04-13
Online publication date: 2024-06-03
Corresponding author
Zhuoan Sun
Shenyang Laboratory of national gemstone testing center, Shenyang 110034, P.R. China
Chuanlei Lu
Harbin Center for Integrated Natural Resources Survey, China Geological Survey, Harbin 150086, P.R. China
Ke Yang
Harbin Center for Integrated Natural Resources Survey, China Geological Survey, Harbin 150086, P.R. China
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ABSTRACT
In order to understand the pollution status of potentially toxic elements (Hg, Cd, Cr, Ni, Pb, Zn, As,
and Cu) in the surface farmland soil of black soil in Northeast China and its impact on human health,
Hailun City, a representative area of black soil in Northeast China, was selected as the study area. The
pollution degree, ecological risk, and health risk of soil and potentially toxic elements in this area were
evaluated by the index of geoaccumulation method (Igeo), the potential ecological hazard index method
(RI), and the health risk assessment model (HRA). The results showed that the average contents of eight
potentially toxic elements in the soil in this area were higher than the soil background value in Hailun
City, showing different degrees of accumulation. There are Cd and Hg pollution and ecological risks
in the soil of Hailun City. Cd has slight, medium, strong, and extremely strong ecological risks, and
the risk index ranges from 19.32 to 751.64; Hg takes second place. Children are more vulnerable to the
health threat of potentially toxic elements, and oral intake is the main source of soil exposure risk. The
potentially toxic elements As and Cr are more likely to cause human health risks.