Yan Jia-Li, Yu Zi-Ling, Yu Hui-Liang, Xiang Ming-Deng, Wang Chuan-Hua
College of Biological and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Three Gorges University, Yichang 443002, China.
State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution Health Risk Assessment, South China Institute of Environmental Sciences, Ministry of Ecology and Environment, Guangzhou 510655, China.
Huan Jing Ke Xue. 2022 Jun 8;43(6):3288-3298. doi: 10.13227/j.hjkx.202109083.
The golden snub-nosed monkey is one of the most endangered animal species endemic to China. In order to explore the characteristics and health risks of golden snub-nosed monkeys exposed to heavy metals, we collected the plant food sources, soil, and water samples from the golden snub-nosed monkey habitat in the Shennongjia Mountains; examined the contents of seven heavy metals (Cu, Zn, Pb, Cd, Cr, Ni, and As); and adopted the comprehensive pollution index, potential ecological risk index, and Nemerow index to evaluate pollutants in the water, soil, and food plants. At the same time, the Target Hazard Quotient method was used to assess heavy metals in the food plants. The results showed that the heavy metal concentration of the habitat water was 0.004-1.220 μg·L. The water comprehensive pollution index showed that the habitat water was safe. In addition, the (Cd)(0.162-0.822 mg·kg) in the soil was 2.71 times the background value of the soil in Hubei province, indicating a moderate risk of ecological harm. The over-standard rates of Pb, Cd, Cr, and Ni in food plants were 29%, 29%, 18%, and 35%, respectively; the pollution indexes of lichen and bark were 6.038 and 7.709, which were at a heavy pollution level; and the pollution indexes of and were 2.716 and 2.034, which indicated a moderately polluted level. The rest of the plants were at a safe level. Our health risk analysis showed that the risk of lichen and bark were higher than that of leaves, followed by fruits. Among the seven metals, As most threatened the health of the golden snub-nosed monkeys (THQ>1). In general, heavy metals had polluted the habitats of the golden snub-nosed monkeys in the Shennongjia Mountains, and we are certain that the heavy metal pollution was associated with human activities. Thus, human activities in the Shennongjia Mountains should be reasonably restricted in the future. Our results can provide scientific support for the population conservation of golden snub-nosed monkeys in China and provide research samples in the health risk valuation of heavy metals in endangered animals through food plants.
金丝猴是中国特有的最濒危动物物种之一。为探究金丝猴暴露于重金属下的特征及健康风险，我们采集了神农架山区金丝猴栖息地的植物食物来源、土壤和水样；检测了七种重金属（铜、锌、铅、镉、铬、镍和砷）的含量；并采用综合污染指数、潜在生态风险指数和内梅罗指数评估水、土壤和食用植物中的污染物。同时，运用目标危害商数法评估食用植物中的重金属。结果表明，栖息地水体中重金属浓度为0.004 - 1.220μg·L。水体综合污染指数显示栖息地水体安全。此外，土壤中的镉（0.162 - 0.822mg·kg）是湖北省土壤背景值的2.71倍，表明存在中度生态危害风险。食用植物中铅、镉、铬和镍的超标率分别为29%、29%、18%和35%；地衣和树皮的污染指数分别为6.038和7.709，处于重度污染水平；[此处原文可能有缺失信息]的污染指数分别为2.716和2.034，表明处于中度污染水平。其余植物处于安全水平。我们的健康风险分析表明，地衣和树皮的风险高于树叶，其次是果实。在这七种金属中，砷对金丝猴健康的威胁最大（目标危害商数>1）。总体而言，重金属已污染了神农架山区金丝猴的栖息地，我们确定重金属污染与人类活动有关。因此，未来应合理限制神农架山区的人类活动。我们的研究结果可为中国金丝猴种群保护提供科学支持，并为通过食用植物对濒危动物进行重金属健康风险评估提供研究样本。
