IJERPH, Vol. 16, Pages 2: Heavy Metals of Santiago Island (Cape Verde) Alluvial Deposits: Baseline Value Maps and Human Health Risk Assessment

IJERPH, Vol. 16, Pages 2: Heavy Metals of Santiago Island (Cape Verde) Alluvial Deposits: Baseline Value Maps and Human Health Risk Assessment International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health doi: 10.3390/ijerph16010002 Authors: Marina M. S. Cabral Pinto Eduardo A. Ferreira da Silva The chemical composition of surface geological materials may cause metabolic changes and promote endemic diseases (e.g., oncological, gastrointestinal, neurological or cardiovascular diseases). The results of a geochemical survey is presented following the guidelines proposed by the International Project IGCP 259 performed on the alluvium of Santiago Island (Cape Verde) and focused on public health issues. Geochemical mapping is the base knowledge needed to determine critical contents of potential toxic elements and the potentially harmful regions in the planet. This work presents maps of baseline values of potentially toxic elements (As, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Hg, Mn, Ni, Pb, V, and Zn) in Santiago alluvium and the assessment of their human health risks. According to the results the Cd, Co, Cr, Ni and V baseline values are above the Canadian guidelines for stream sediments (for any proposal use) and for soils (for agricultural and residential proposal uses) and also above the target values of Dutch guidelines. Hazard indexes (HI) were calculated for children and adults. For children (HI) are higher than 1 for Co, Cr and Mn, indicating potential non-carcinogenic risk. For the o...
Source: International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health - Category: Environmental Health Authors: Tags: Article Source Type: research