Heavy metal pollution of soils and risk assessment in Houston, Texas following Hurricane Harvey

• DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2021.118717
• Publication Date: 2021-12-18T17:04:42Z
• Authors: Inkyu Han; Kristina W. Whitw...; Brian Christensen; Masoud Afshar; Heyreoun An Han; Amal Rammah; Temitope Oluwadairo; Elaine Symanski
• Keywords: Adult; China; Cyclonic Storms; Risk Assessment; Texas; 01 natural sciences; 6. Clean water; 12. Responsible consumption; 3. Good health; Soil; 13. Climate action; Metals, Heavy; 11. Sustainability; Humans; Soil Pollutants; Child; Environmental Monitoring; 0105 earth and related environmental sciences

In August 2017, after Hurricane Harvey made landfall, almost 52 inches of rain fell during a three-day period along the Gulf Coast Region Texas, including Harris County, where Houston is located. County was heavily impacted with over 177,000 homes and buildings (approximately 12 percent all in county) experiencing flooding. The objective this study to measure 13 heavy metals soil residential areas assess cancer non-cancer risk for children adults floodwaters receded. Between September November we collected 174 surface samples 10 communities, which were classified as "High Environmental Impact" or "Low based on composite metric six environmental parameters. A second campaign conducted between May 2019 July when additional 204 collected. Concentrations at both sampling campaigns higher High Impact communities than Low there little change metal levels two periods. Pollution Indices lead (Pb), zinc, copper, nickel, manganese significantly those communities. Further, estimates three arsenic through ingestion greater 1 1,000,000. Although average Pb lower benchmark United States Protection Agency, hazard indices outcomes mostly attributed Pb, 1. Health living these adults.