Jingdong Zhang

Heavy metals in road dust from Xiandao District, Changsha City, China: characteristics, health risk assessment, and integrated source identification.

The physicochemical properties and the contents of metals (Cu, Zn, Pb, Cd, Cr, and Fe) in 51 road dust samples from Xiandao District (XDD) were investigated. Enrichment factor (EF), multivariate statistics, geostatistics, and health risk assessment model were adopted to study the spatial pollution pattern and to identify the priority pollutants and regions of concern and sources of studied metals. The mean EFs revealed the following order: Cd > Zn ≈ Pb ≈ Cu > Cr. For non-carcinogenic effects, the exposure pathway which resulted in the highest levels of exposure risk for children and adults was ingestion, followed by dermal contact and inhalation. Hazard index (HI) values for the studied metals at each site were within the safe level of 1 except maximum HICr (1.08) for children. The carcinogenic risk (CR) for Cd and Cr at each site was within the acceptable risk level (1E-06) except CRCr (1.08E-06) for children in the road intersection between the Changchang highway and the Yuelin highway. Cr was identified as the priority pollutant followed by Pb and Cd with consideration of the local population distribution. Spatially, northwest and northeast of XDD were regarded as the priority regions of concern. Results based on the proposed integrated source identification method indicated that Pb was probably sourced from traffic-related sources, Cd was associated with the dust organic material mainly originated from industrial sources, and Cr was mainly derived from both sources.

Site-specific risk assessment and integrated management decision-making: A case study of a typical heavy metal contaminated site, Middle China

ABSTRACT A typical contaminated land was spatially investigated and assessed based on Chinese guidelines to establish remediation strategy for exploring the shortcomings of the current guidelines to suggest improvements. Results showed that Cr, As, Pb, and Cd should be regarded as the priority pollutants under sensitive land use, while Cr and As should be regarded as the priority pollutants under insensitive land use. Ingestion of soil for each studied metal appeared to be the main exposure pathway under both the land uses. The calculated screening values of the priority metals were conservative to certain extent—even some were lower than their background values. Therefore, an integrated risk management strategy was suggested and the hierarchic clean-up values were proposed considering the health risk, local background value, land remediation cases, current remediation technology, and financial cost. Consequently, it was suggested the clean-up values of Cr(VI), Cr, As, Pb, and Cd, under future sensitive land use, should be 7.5, 1000, 30, 250, and 1.4 mg/kg in the first class control layer, respectively. For future insensitive land use, the clean-up values of Cr(VI), Cr, As, Pb, and Cd should be 20.4, 8000, 60, 580, and 4.3 mg/kg in the first class control layer, respectively.

Spatial Distribution and Fuzzy Health Risk Assessment of Trace Elements in Surface Water from Honghu Lake

Previous studies revealed that Honghu Lake was polluted by trace elements due to anthropogenic activities. This study investigated the spatial distribution of trace elements in Honghu Lake, and identified the major pollutants and control areas based on the fuzzy health risk assessment at screening level. The mean total content of trace elements in surface water decreased in the order of Zn (18.04 μg/L) > Pb (3.42 μg/L) > Cu (3.09 μg/L) > Cr (1.63 μg/L) > As (0.99 μg/L) > Cd (0.14 μg/L), within limits of Drinking Water Guidelines. The results of fuzzy health risk assessment indicated that there was no obvious non-carcinogenic risk to human health, while carcinogenic risk was observed in descending order of As > Cr > Cd > Pb. As was regarded to have the highest carcinogenic risk among selected trace elements because it generally accounted for 64% of integrated carcinogenic risk. Potential carcinogenic risk of trace elements in each sampling site was approximately at medium risk level (10−5 to 10−4). The areas in the south (S4, S13, and S16) and northeast (S8, S18, and S19) of Honghu Lake were regarded as the risk priority control areas. However, the corresponding maximum memberships of integrated carcinogenic risk in S1, S3, S10–S13, S15, and S18 were of relatively low credibility (50–60%), and may mislead the decision-makers in identifying the risk priority areas. Results of fuzzy assessment presented the subordinate grade and corresponding reliability of risk, and provided more full-scale results for decision-makers, which made up for the deficiency of certainty assessment to a certain extent.

Investigation, Pollution Mapping and Simulative Leakage Health Risk Assessment for Heavy Metals and Metalloids in Groundwater from a Typical Brownfield, Middle China

Heavy metal and metalloid (Cr, Pb, Cd, Zn, Cu, Ni, As and Hg) concentrations in groundwater from 19 typical sites throughout a typical brownfield were detected. Mean concentrations of toxic metals in groundwater decreased in the order of Cr > Zn > Cu > Cd > Ni > Pb > Hg > As. Concentration of Cr6+ in groundwater was detected to further study chromium contamination. Cr6+ and Cd in groundwater were recommended as the priority pollutants because they were generally 1399-fold and 12-foldgreater than permissible limits, respectively. Owing to the fact that a waterproof curtain (WPC) in the brownfield is about to pass the warranty period, a steady two-dimensional water quality model and health risk assessment were applied to simulate and evaluate adverse effects of Cr6 + and Cd on the water quality of Xiangjiang River and the drinking-water intake of Wangcheng Waterworks. The results indicated that when groundwater in the brownfield leaked with valid curtain prevention, the water quality in Xiangjiang River and drinking-water intake downstream were temporarily unaffected. However, if there was no curtain prevention, groundwater leakage would have adverse impact on water quality of Xiangjiang River. Under the requirements of Class III surface water quality, the pollution belt for Cr6+ was 7500 m and 200 m for Cd. The non-carcinogenic risk of toxic metals in Xiangjiang River exceeded the threshold in a limited area, but did not threaten Wangcheng Waterworks. By contrast, the carcinogenic risk area for adults was at a transverse distance of 200 m and a longitudinal distance of 18,000 m, which was close to the Wangcheng Waterworks (23,000 m). Therefore, it was essential to reconstruct the WPC in the brownfield for preventing pollution diffusion.

Removal of organic matter and heavy metals of low concentration from wastewater via micellar-enhanced ultrafiltration: an overview

As a new and effective means of wastewater treatment, the micellar-enhanced ultrafiltration (MEUF) has been extensively studied. In this paper, MEUF was introduced from the aspects of theory basis, ultrafiltration membranes, and surfactants. Additionally, the latest research achievements in removing organic matter and heavy ions, its application in actual wastewater, and the characterization parameters of MEUF were introduced and summarized. Then, influences and mechanisms of the primary operation parameters, including surfactant concentration, pH, electrolytes, and transmembrane pressure on the performance of the MEUF process were analyzed. Finally, existing problems in the MEUF process were identified and developmental trends were predicted.

Spatial Distribution, Chemical Fraction and Fuzzy Comprehensive Risk Assessment of Heavy Metals in Surface Sediments from the Honghu Lake, China

Spatial concentrations and chemical fractions of heavy metals (Cr, Cu, Pb, Zn and Cd) in 16 sampling sites from the Honghu Lake were investigated using an atomic absorption spectrophotometer and optimized BCR (the European Community Bureau of Reference) three-stage extraction procedure. Compared with the corresponding probable effect levels (PELs), adverse biological effects of the studied five sediment metals decreased in the sequence of Cr > Cu > Zn > Pb > Cd. Geo-accumulation index (Igeo) values for Cr, Cu, Pb and Zn in each sampling site were at un-contamination level, while the values for Cd varied from un-contamination level to moderate contamination level. Spatially, the enrichment degree of Cd in lower part of the South Lake, the west part of the North Lake and the outlet were higher than the other parts of Honghu Lake. For metal chemical fractions, the proportions of the acid-extractable fraction of five metal contents were in the descending order: Cd, Cu, Zn, Pb and Cr. Cd had the highest bioaccessibility. Being the above indexes focused always on heavy metals’ total content or chemical fraction in deterministic assessment system, which may confuse decision makers, the fuzzy comprehensive risk assessment method was established based on PEI (Potential ecological risk index), RAC (Risk assessment code) and fuzzy theory. Average comprehensive risks of heavy metals in sediments revealed the following orders: Cd (considerable risk) > Cu (moderate risk) > Zn (low risk) > Pb > Cr. Thus, Cd and Cu were determined as the pollutants of most concern. The central part of South Honghu Lake (S4, S5, S6, S9, S12 and S14), east part of the North Honghu Lake (S1) and outlet of outlet of the Honghu Lake (S10) were recommended as the priority control areas. Specifically, it is necessary to pay more attention to S1, S4, S5, S6, S9 and S16 when decision making for their calculated membership values (probabilities) of adjacent risk levels quite close.

Health risk assessment on tunnel workers’ exposure to PM10 based on triangular fuzzy numbers

The triangular fuzzy numbers were introduced to environmental assessment system, health risk assessment model based on triangular fuzzy numbers was built to calculate exposure dose and characterize the health risk of tunnel workers’ exposure to PM10. PM10 was measured on the site at 7 sampling spots of the tunnel. In order to ensure the accuracy of the assessment, the exposure factors of tunnel workers were obtained through questionnaires instead of handbooks. 176 workers including 5 types of workers were selected as samples. The results showed that PM10 exposure concentrations of different types of workers from high to low were excavation workers, blasting workers, secondary-lining workers, slag-out workers, and supporting workers. According to health risk assessment, all of the five types of tunnel workers had health risk. Excavation workers’ highest hazard quotient was mainly due to extremely high concentration of PM10. For secondary-lining workers, their hazard quotient was second only to excavation w...

An exploration of an integrated stochastic-fuzzy pollution assessment for heavy metals in urban topsoil based on metal enrichment and bioaccessibility

An integrated stochastic-fuzzy pollution assessment method (ISFPAM) for soil heavy metal was established based on geo-accumulation index (Igeo), stochastic-fuzzy theory and double weight system under synthetical consideration of metal ecotoxicity and bioaccessibility. The pollution characteristics of the topsoil heavy metals (Cu, Zn, Cd, Pb and Cr) in Xiangjiang New District were evaluated by the widely-used Single factor index (SF), Nemerow index (NI), Igeo, Potential ecological index (PERI), Risk assessment code (RAC) and the ISFPAM. The results of SF, NI, Igeo, RI and RAC of the studied metals revealed the following orders: Cd > Zn > Cr > Cu > Pb, Cd > Zn > Pb > Cr > Cu, Cd > Cr > Cu > Zn > Pb, Cd > Cu > Pb > Cr > Zn, and Cd > Pb > Cr > Zn > Cu, respectively. The different pollution assessment methods outputted the differentiated conclusions to some extent except the judgment for Cd. Results based on ISFPAM indicated that metal pollution degrees decreased in the order of Cd (5.91, Grade 6) > Cu (2.81, Grade 3) > Pb (2.66, Grade 3) > Cr (1.58, Grade 2) > Zn (0.69, Grade 1). By detailed comparison analysis, the double weight system and stochastic-fuzzy theory made ISFPAM better resolving ability to find out priority heavy metals and areas with relatively higher enrichment, ecotoxicity and bioaccessibility under efficient parameter uncertainty control. Cd, Cu and Pb were regarded as the priority control metals, especially Cd. Simultaneously, the reliabilities of heavy metal pollution corresponding to adjacent pollution grades were quite close in some sites, which recommend recheck for avoid misleading the decision-makers.

Occupational Health Risk Assessment in the Electronics Industry in China Based on the Occupational Classification Method and EPA Model

The awareness of occupational health risk management in the electronics industry is weak in China, and many Chinese occupational health management regulations have not been effectively implemented. China’s current occupational hazards classification method and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) inhalation risk assessment model recognized internationally were used to perform health risk assessments for a chip manufacturing company in the electronics industry in order to determine the existing problems and put forward the optimization proposals of the occupational hazards classification method in China. The results showed that the detected concentrations of toxic and harmful chemicals in all testing points did not exceed the occupational health exposure limits in China. According to the EPA inhalation risk assessment model, the highest values of non-carcinogenic risks of ammonia, chlorine, fluoride, sulfuric acid, hydrogen chloride, ethylene glycol, phosphine, boron trifluoride, isopropanol, benzene, and xylene were 5.10, 67.12, 1.71, 45.98, 1.83, 1.43, 160.35, 46.56, 2.52, 5.55, and 5.37, respectively, which means workers in electronic chip manufacturing companies exposed to these chemicals have higher occupational health risks. However, on the basis of the occupational hazards classification method, the occupational health risks of exposure to the toxic and hazardous chemicals are relatively harmless operations. The evaluation results of the EPA inhalation risk assessment model are generally higher than those of the occupational hazards classification method. It’s recommended to refine the value of occupational exposure limit B, taking more characteristics of the hazard factors into account and fuzzifying the parameters to optimize the occupational hazards classification method. At the same time, it is suggested that the electronic chip manufacturing company should conduct anti-virus risk management covering in three aspects: increasing the awareness of occupational hazards, enhancing system ventilation, and improving personal health management measures.

Comparison of Toxic Metal Distribution Characteristics and Health Risk between Cultured and Wild Fish Captured from Honghu City, China

Honghu Lake, which listed in the “Ramsar Convention”, is the seventh largest freshwater lake in China and is regarded as one of the biggest freshwater product output areas in China. The toxic element distribution in cultured and wild fish and the corresponding health risks through fish consumption from Honghu area were investigated. The mean concentration in the muscle of cultured and wild fish (Carassius auratus and Ctenopharyngodon idellus) decreased in the order: Zn (18.94) > Cu (0.8489) > Cr (0.2840) > Pb (0.2052) and Zn (16.30) > Cr (1.947) > Cu (0.4166) > Pb (0.0525) > Cd (0.0060) (mean; mg/kg, wet weight). Scales (Multi factor pollution index (MPI) = 3.342) and the liver (MPI = 1.276) were regarded as the main accumulation tissues for cultured fish, and the bladder (MPI = 0.640) and intestine (MPI = 0.477) were regarded as the main accumulation tissues for wild fish. There were no obvious health risks associated with the consumption of cultured and wild fish based on the calculated results of the target hazard quotient (THQ), carcinogenic risk (CR), and estimated weekly intake (EWI). Pb and Cr were recognized as the major health risk contributors for inhabitants through wild and cultured fish consumption. Cultured fish had a greater health risk than wild fish based on the calculation results of THQ and CR. Muscle consumption resulted in more health risks than mixed edible tissues for cultured fish, but for wild fish, the conclusion was the opposite. Mixed fish (cultured:wild = 1:1) muscle consumption had relatively lower risks than the consumption of cultured or wild fish muscle separately. Consuming no more than 465 g/day (wet wt) of cultured fish muscle, 68 g/day (wet wt) of wild fish muscle, 452 g/day (wet wt) of mixed cultured fish edible tissues or 186 g/day (wet wt) of mixed wild fish edible tissues from the Honghu area can assure human health.