University College Dublin, School of Biosystems and Food Engineering, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland.
Sci Total Environ. 2022 Jan 1;802:149839. doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.149839. Epub 2021 Aug 24.
Elevated human exposure to metals and metalloids (metal(loid)s) may lead to acute sickness and pose a severe threat to human health. The human body is exposed to metal(loid)s principally through food, water, supplements, and (occasionally) air. There are inherent background levels of many metal(loid)s in regional soils as a consequence of geological sources. Baseline levels coupled with anthropogenic sources such as regional application of biosolids may lead to increased levels of certain metal(loid)s in soil, leading to potential transfer to water sources and potential uptake by plants. The latter could potentially transfer into the feed-to-food chain, viz. grazing animals, and bio-transfer to food products resulting in human exposure. This study addresses health concerns due to excessive intake of metal(loid)s by conducting a traditional review of peer-reviewed journals between 2015 and 2019, secondary references and relevant websites. The review identified the most researched metal(loid)s as Cu, Zn, Pb, Cd, Ni, Cr, As, Hg, Mn, Fe in the environment. The potential uptake of metal(loid)s by plants (phytoavailability) is a function of the mobility/retainability of metal(loid)s in the soil, influenced by soil geochemistry. The most critical parameters (including soil pH, soil organic matter, clay content, cation exchange capacity, the capability of decomposition of organic matter by microbes, redox potential, ionic strength) influencing metal(loid)s in soil are reviewed and used as a foundation to build a framework model for ranking metal(loid)s of concern. A robust quantitative risk assessment model is recommended for evaluating risk from individual metal(loid)s based on health-based indices (Daily Dietary Index (DDI), No Observed Adverse Effect Level (NOAEL), and Lowest Observed Adverse Effect Level (LOAEL)). This research proposes a risk assessment framework for potentially harmful metal(loid)s in the environment and highlights where regulation and intervention may be required.
人类接触金属和类金属（金属（类））水平升高可能导致急性疾病，并对人类健康构成严重威胁。人体主要通过食物、水、补充剂和（偶尔）空气接触金属（类）。由于地质来源，区域土壤中存在许多金属（类）的固有背景水平。基线水平加上人为来源，如区域应用生物固体，可能导致土壤中某些金属（类）水平升高，从而潜在地转移到水源，并可能被植物吸收。后者可能通过食物链转移，即食草动物，以及生物转移到食品中，导致人类暴露。本研究通过对 2015 年至 2019 年期间同行评议期刊、次要参考文献和相关网站的传统综述，解决了由于摄入过多金属（类）而产生的健康问题。该综述确定了环境中研究最多的金属（类）为 Cu、Zn、Pb、Cd、Ni、Cr、As、Hg、Mn、Fe。植物对金属（类）的潜在吸收（植物可利用性）是金属（类）在土壤中移动/保留能力的函数，受土壤地球化学的影响。影响土壤中金属（类）的最关键参数（包括土壤 pH 值、土壤有机质、粘土含量、阳离子交换能力、微生物分解有机质的能力、氧化还原电位、离子强度）进行了回顾，并用作构建关注金属（类）排序框架模型的基础。建议使用基于健康的指数（每日膳食指数（DDI）、无观察到不良效应水平（NOAEL）和最低观察到不良效应水平（LOAEL））对单个金属（类）进行风险评估的定量风险评估模型。本研究提出了一种环境中潜在有害金属（类）的风险评估框架，并强调了需要监管和干预的地方。
