ORIGINAL RESEARCH
Pollution Appraisal, Health Risk Assessment
and Source Apportionment of Reservoirs’
Heavy Metals in an Agricultural Base,
Northern Anhui Province, China
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1
School of Resources and Civil Engineering, Suzhou University, Anhui 234000, China
2
School of Earth and Environment, Anhui University of Science & Technology, Anhui, 232001, China
3
Key Laboratory of Mine Water Resource Utilization of Anhui Higher Education Institutes, Anhui 234000, China
Submission date: 2023-08-25
Final revision date: 2023-11-01
Acceptance date: 2024-01-02
Online publication date: 2024-04-15
Publication date: 2024-04-18
Corresponding author
Jie Ma
School of Resources and Civil Engineering, Suzhou University, 234000, Suzhou, China
Pol. J. Environ. Stud. 2024;33(4):3759-3769
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ABSTRACT
The related issues with the heavy metals in the different water bodies have been widespread, causing
concern around the world. In this study, the single-factor pollution index, Nemerow composite pollution
index, health risk assessment (AHP model), multivariate statistical analysis, including correlation
analysis, and principal component analysis were conducted to depict the pollution appraisal, the health
risk assessment, and the source apportionment of the reservoirs in Northern Anhui Province, China.
The results showed that the mean concentration order was as follows: Mn>Zn>As>Ni>Cr> Cu>Co>Cd.
The coefficient of variation of Cr and Mn indicated the high degree of anthropogenic activities, and the
remaining heavy metals implied that they were relatively stable. The single factor pollution index and
Nemerow’s pollution index consistently showed that only sampling site R06 was slightly polluted, and
the remaining 13 sampling points were free-pollution. The average annual health risk value of chemical
carcinogens in the human body is much higher than that of chemical non-carcinogens, and children are
more likely to be threatened by heavy metals than adults. Under the route of drinking water and skin
contact, the maximum annual health risk caused by Cr exceeds the maximum acceptable risk level
1x10-4 issued by USEPA. The correlation analysis suggested that the correlation coefficients between
Mn-Co, Co-Ni, As-Cd, and Cr-Ni revealed a significant positive correlation. When combined with
the principal component analysis, the three principal components may be related to the discharge of
domestic wastewater, automobile exhaust emissions, and pesticides and fertilizers, respectively.