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Environmental and Health Risks of Heavy Metals in Farmland Soils of Drinking Water Protection Areas and a Contaminated Paddy Field in Taiwan

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  • Shih-Han Huang

    (Institute of Environmental Engineering and Management, National Taipei University of Technology, Taipei 106, Taiwan)

  • Ying-Lin Wang

    (Graduate Institute of Environmental Engineering, National Taiwan University, Taipei 106, Taiwan)

  • Sheng-Hsien Li

    (Graduate Institute of Environmental Engineering, National Taiwan University, Taipei 106, Taiwan)

  • Ling-Chu Chien

    (School of Public Health, Taipei Medical University, Taipei 110, Taiwan)

  • Tien-Chin Chang

    (Institute of Environmental Engineering and Management, National Taipei University of Technology, Taipei 106, Taiwan)

  • Zeng-Yei Hseu

    (Department of Agricultural Chemistry, National Taiwan University, Taipei 106, Taiwan)

  • Hsing-Cheng Hsi

    (Graduate Institute of Environmental Engineering, National Taiwan University, Taipei 106, Taiwan)

Abstract

This study assessed heavy metal contents and their mobility, bioaccessibility, environmental risk, and health effects in the farmland soils of Drinking Water Source Quality Protection (DWSQP) areas contaminated by livestock manure and a paddy field contaminated by co-use of irrigation and drainage canals in Taiwan. The risk assessment code (RAC) and synthesis toxicity index (STI) for the soils were obtained. The potential health effects caused from soil direct ingestion by hand-to-mouth activity and dermal contact frequently occurring to farmers were further evaluated. The Cu, Zn, and Cr levels in DWSQP areas and the Changhwa (CH) paddy field exceeded the standards promulgated by Taiwan Environmental Protection Administration (EPA). Nevertheless, RAC in DWSQP areas was in low risk levels. In contrast, RAC from Cu and Zn in CH paddy soils was in medium levels. Non-carcinogenic risks for farmers based on the total and bioaccessible metals in DWSQP areas and CH soils were all <1. However, carcinogenic risks based on bioaccessible Cr still exceeded 10 −6 in several soils, indicating that the potential impacts on environmental and human health due to direct and indirect exposures to these contaminated soils should be concerned.

Suggested Citation

  • Shih-Han Huang & Ying-Lin Wang & Sheng-Hsien Li & Ling-Chu Chien & Tien-Chin Chang & Zeng-Yei Hseu & Hsing-Cheng Hsi, 2019. "Environmental and Health Risks of Heavy Metals in Farmland Soils of Drinking Water Protection Areas and a Contaminated Paddy Field in Taiwan," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(19), pages 1-17, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:11:y:2019:i:19:p:5166-:d:269242
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    Cited by:

    1. Lei Han & Rui Chen & Zhao Liu & Shanshan Chang & Yonghua Zhao & Leshi Li & Risheng Li & Longfei Xia, 2021. "Sources of and Control Measures for PTE Pollution in Soil at the Urban Fringe in Weinan, China," Land, MDPI, vol. 10(7), pages 1-19, July.
    2. Hsin-Yi Yang & Sheng-Kung Chen & Jiun-Shiuan Wang & Chih-Jen Lu & Hung-Yu Lai, 2020. "Farmland Trace Metal Contamination and Management Model—Model Development and a Case Study in Central Taiwan," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(23), pages 1-19, December.

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