Evaluation of Soil Heavy Metal Contamination and Potential Human Health Risk inside Forests, Wildfire Forests and Urban Areas

• DOI: 10.3390/environments10080146
• Publication Date: 2023-08-16T13:57:02Z
• Authors: Speranza Claudia ...; Lucia Santorufo; Valeria Memoli; Francesco Esposito; Giorgia Santini; Gabriella Di Natale; Marco Trifuoggi; Rossella Barile; Giulia Maisto
• Keywords: 13. Climate action; 11. Sustainability; Mediterranean region; carcinogenic risk; soil contamination indices; potential toxic elements; land uses; 15. Life on land; 01 natural sciences; 6. Clean water; carcinogenic risk; land uses; Mediterranean region; potential toxic elements; soil contamination indices; 3. Good health; 0105 earth and related environmental sciences

Recently, due to rapid industrialization and urbanization, many studies have focused on the assessment of soil metal contamination. The present research aimed investigate concentration potentially hazardous elements (Al, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mg, Mn, Ni, Pb, V Zn) in three different areas (forest, wildfire forest urban) Mediterranean region. Contamination levels were further assessed calculating indices: contamination factor (CF), geo-accumulation index (GI) ecological risk (E). results showed high concentrations V, Mg Mn soils, as well Al, Pb Zn urban soils. According indices, exceeded background level both human assessment, inhalation appeared main route exposure metals especially for children. overall cancer was higher than safe level, Pb. Different relationships found between indices potential carcinogenic effects according diverse concentrations. Particularly, soils health risks mainly linked Cu Cr contaminations, activities, anthropogenic pedogenetic input. Instead, that contamination, related traffic, influenced carcinogenetic this area. acceptable values all assessed. These findings highlighted need develop management practices protect from pollution reduce risks.