Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Resources and Environmental Information Engineering, Xuzhou, Jiangsu 221116, China; School of Environment Science and Spatial Informatics, China University of Mining and Technology, Xuzhou, Jiangsu 221116, China.
School of Mines, China University of Mining and Technology, Xuzhou, Jiangsu 221116, China.
Sci Total Environ. 2020 Apr 15;713:135292. doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.135292. Epub 2019 Dec 7.
Coal production and utilization are recognized as two principal sources of potentially toxic elements in the environment. Here the published literature (2008-2018) was searched to collect data on As, Ni, Cd, Cu, Cr, Hg, Pb and Zn concentrations in soils near different types of coal industrial areas such as coal mines, thermal power plants, coal chemical plants, coal mining cities and coal waster piles. The contamination levels of soils and associated health risks were assessed using global reference materials and multiple contamination indices. The results revealed that average concentrations of potentially toxic elements varied widely, yet most of them exceeded global averages in background soils and upper continental crust concentrations. Spatial distribution analysis suggested the concentrations of potentially toxic elements varied according to coalification and combustion conditions. Higher concentrations were found in Southeast Asia, South Europe, and North Africa compared with other regions. Assessment of the geoaccumulation index revealed that contamination levels of Cd and Hg were higher than those of other elements. In particular, Ni, Cd, Zn, and Hg were most likely to accumulate in soils near coal mining areas, while Cd and Hg tended to accumulate near coal chemical plants. Regarding non-carcinogenic risks, oral ingestion was the major pathway of exposure to potentially toxic elements in coal industry-associated soils, followed by dermal contact and inhalation. Tolerable non-carcinogenic risk of potentially toxic elements and relatively high carcinogenic risks of As were observed. Children were most vulnerable to non-carcinogenic risks, while the carcinogenic risks estimated for adult and children populations were similar. Accordingly, As should be designated as top candidates for priority control to protect human health in the vicinity of coal industry-associated areas. This study provides timely information for developing control and management strategies to reduce soil contamination by potentially toxic elements in different types of coal industrial areas.
煤炭生产和利用被认为是环境中潜在有毒元素的两个主要来源。本研究通过查阅 2008-2018 年出版的文献，收集了不同类型煤炭工业区域（煤矿、火力发电厂、煤化工厂、煤炭开采城市和煤矸石山）附近土壤中砷（As）、镍（Ni）、镉（Cd）、铜（Cu）、铬（Cr）、汞（Hg）、铅（Pb）和锌（Zn）浓度的数据。本研究使用全球参比物质和多种污染指数评估了土壤的污染水平和相关健康风险。结果表明，潜在有毒元素的平均浓度差异很大，但大多数都超过了背景土壤和上地壳的全球平均值。空间分布分析表明，潜在有毒元素的浓度随煤化和燃烧条件的不同而变化。与其他地区相比，东南亚、南欧和北非的浓度较高。对地质累积指数的评估表明，Cd 和 Hg 的污染水平高于其他元素。特别是 Ni、Cd、Zn 和 Hg 更有可能在煤矿附近的土壤中积累，而 Cd 和 Hg 则更倾向于在煤化工厂附近积累。在非致癌风险方面，口服摄入是煤炭工业相关土壤中潜在有毒元素暴露的主要途径，其次是皮肤接触和吸入。在煤炭工业相关土壤中，As 的可接受非致癌风险和相对较高的致癌风险被观察到。儿童最容易受到非致癌风险的影响，而对成人和儿童群体的致癌风险估计则相似。因此，As 应被指定为优先控制的候选元素，以保护煤炭工业相关地区的人类健康。本研究为制定不同类型煤炭工业区域潜在有毒元素污染控制和管理策略提供了及时的信息。
