Jadoon Waqar Azeem, Khan Yousaf Ali, Varol Memet, Onjia Antonije, Mohany Mohamed
Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Hazara University Mansehra, 21130, Pakistan.
Department of Mathematics and Statistics, Hazara University Mansehra, 21130, Pakistan.
J Hazard Mater. 2025 Mar 15;486:136788. doi: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2024.136788. Epub 2024 Dec 4.
Human activities have far-reaching impact on natural ecosystems, causing increasing disturbances and disruptions to the delicate balance of the environment. Poor land use planning, urbanization, infrastructure development, and unplanned tourism exacerbate contamination and degradation in tourist destinations, yet the pollution of potentially toxic elements (PTEs) in these environments remains inadequately explored. To address this issue, we investigated the concentrations of acid-digested PTEs in road dust in Abbottabad city (Pakistan) with heavy traffic. The current study also evaluated PTE associated pollution, ecological and health risks, and potential sources of these elements. The average concentrations (in mg kg) of PTEs in road dust were highest for Fe (15540), followed by Mn (304), Zn (139), Cu (50.0), Pb (21.5), Cr (13.0), Ni (10.3), Co (6.66), and Cd (0.236). The levels of Co, Cr, Mn, Ni, and Fe were below the upper continental crust (UCC) averages, while Cd, Cu, Pb, and Zn exceeded them. Spatially, Cd, Cu, Pb, and Zn were found at higher levels near traffic hotspots, bus stands and automobile workshops. Road dust in Abbottabad exhibited unpolluted to moderate pollution levels (geo-accumulation index), with Cd, Cu, Zn, and Pb at 23 % of the sites. The enrichment factor results indicated a significant anthropogenic influence, with Cd being significantly enriched and Zn, Cu, and Pb moderately enriched. The contamination factor results revealed moderate contamination by (Cd: 2.62, Zn: 2.08, Cu: 1.79, Pb: 1.27). Single metal risk index showed that 61 % of the sites posed considerable to very high ecological risks due to Cd, which was highlighted as a significant concern. The absolute principal component scores-multiple linear regression model identified three factors contributing to PTE pollution: lithogenic (Co, Fe, Mn, Ni), traffic-related (Cd, Cu, Pb, Zn), and mixed sources (Cr), with contributions of 52.8 %, 35.8 %, and 11.4 %, respectively. The PTE hazard quotient and total hazard index values for children and adults were below the safe risk level of 1, indicating no non-carcinogenic health risks. The cumulative carcinogenic risk values to the residents were also within acceptable limits. However, children's susceptibility to non-carcinogenic risks is higher due to their behavior and lower body weight. This study highlights the accumulation of PTEs in Abbottabad's environment, which poses challenges to long-term sustainability, particularly amid unplanned tourism. Therefore, urgent measures are necessary to mitigate PTE pollution and preserve tourist spots and public health.
人类活动对自然生态系统有着深远影响，给环境的微妙平衡带来越来越多的干扰和破坏。土地利用规划不当、城市化、基础设施建设以及无规划的旅游业加剧了旅游目的地的污染和退化，然而这些环境中潜在有毒元素（PTEs）的污染情况仍未得到充分研究。为解决这一问题，我们调查了巴基斯坦阿伯塔巴德市交通繁忙地区道路灰尘中酸消解PTEs的浓度。本研究还评估了与PTEs相关的污染、生态和健康风险以及这些元素的潜在来源。道路灰尘中PTEs的平均浓度（mg/kg）以铁（15540）最高，其次是锰（304）、锌（139）、铜（50.0）、铅（21.5）、铬（13.0）、镍（10.3）、钴（6.66）和镉（0.236）。钴、铬、锰、镍和铁的含量低于上地壳（UCC）平均值，而镉、铜、铅和锌则超过了该平均值。在空间上，镉、铜、铅和锌在交通热点、公交站和汽车修理厂附近含量较高。阿伯塔巴德的道路灰尘呈现出未受污染到中度污染的水平（地累积指数），镉、铜、锌和铅在23%的采样点出现这种情况。富集因子结果表明存在显著的人为影响，镉显著富集，锌、铜和铅中度富集。污染因子结果显示存在中度污染（镉：2.62，锌：2.08，铜：1.79，铅：1.27）。单一金属风险指数表明，61%的采样点因镉存在相当高到极高的生态风险，镉被视为一个重大问题。绝对主成分得分 - 多元线性回归模型确定了导致PTE污染的三个因素：成岩作用（钴、铁、锰、镍）、交通相关（镉、铜、铅、锌）和混合源（铬），其贡献分别为52.8%、35.8%和11.4%。儿童和成人的PTE危害商数和总危害指数值低于安全风险水平1，表明不存在非致癌健康风险。居民的累积致癌风险值也在可接受范围内。然而，由于儿童的行为和较低的体重，他们对非致癌风险的易感性更高。本研究强调了阿伯塔巴德环境中PTEs的积累，这对长期可持续性构成挑战，尤其是在无规划的旅游业背景下。因此，迫切需要采取措施减轻PTE污染，保护旅游景点和公众健康。
