Connection between health risk and heavy metals in agricultural soils of China: a study based on current field investigations

In this study, we performed a preliminary assessment of heavy metals in agricultural soils of the Chinese mainland, and found obvious carcinogenic risks (total lifetime carcinogenic ri sk (TLCR) >  1 × 10–5). A similar spatial distribution pattern was found in soil heavy metal and the mortality of esophagus and stomach cancers. Combining the potential carcinogenic risk assessed by LCR for individual heavy metal with Pearson correlation, Geographical Detector (q statistic  >  0.75 for TLCR, p <  0.05), and redundancy analysis (RDA), it was found that long-term exposure and intake route of heavy metals exceeding the maximum safety threshold (Health Canada standard) may induce digestive system (esophagus, stomach, liver, and colorectum) cancers in rural populations. Through Partial Least S quares Path Model (PLS-PM), it was also revealed that the LCR of heavy metals was closely related to the soil environmental background (path coefficients = 0.82), which in turn was affected by factors such as economic development and pollution discharge. The current research results highlight th e potential carcinogenic risk to the digestive system associated with low-dose and long-term exposure to heavy metals in agricultural soils, and policymakers should propose countermeasures and solutions according to the local conditions.
Source: Environmental Geochemistry and Health - Category: Environmental Health Source Type: research