Geochemical control of potential toxic elements (PTEs), associated risk exposure and source apportionment of agricultural soil in Southern Chitral, Pakistan

摘要

The objective of this study was to assess the levels of potential toxic elements (PTEs) contamination in agriculture soils and its effects on human health in southern Chitral, Pakistan. Agriculture soil samples (n = 31) were collected randomly from two regions viz. Ashirat and Drosh and analyzed for toxic elements such as cadmium (Cd), cobalt (Co) chromium (Cr), copper (Cu), nickel (Ni), lead (Pb) and zinc (Zn). Chronic daily intake (CDI), hazard quotient (HQ), health index (HI), total health risk index (THRI), carcinogenic risk (CR) and non-carcinogenic risk (NCR) were used to measure the PTEs contamination and its relative health impacts. Results revealed that Cd, Cr, Cu, up to (100% each), Ni, Pb and Zn up to (29%, 61% and 81%) had exceeded the guideline suggested by Bohn et al., 2001. The HI values of Cd, Cr, Co, Cu, Ni, Pb and Zn were less than the recommended limit of HI = 1, representing that there is no non-carcinogenic risks of PTEs for children and adults in the study area. Whereas contamination factor (CF) indicate moderate pollution for Cd, Co, Ni, and Cu. The principal component analysis multilinear regression (PCA-MLR) results reveals that both natural and anthropogenic sources influence the agriculture soil of study area. The impacts of majority of PTEs can be associated with mafic-ultramafic rocks and known mines in the vicinity of study area. Therefore the agriculture soil of the study area shows contamination which directly or indirectly influences the health status of local population.