Original scientific paper
Human Health Risk Assessment of Heavy Metals from the Agricultural Soil in South Herzegovina
Aida Šukalić
; Agromediterraneane Faculty, University Džemal Bijedić, U.S.R.C. Mithad Hujdur Hujka, Mostar 88104, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Nihada Ahmetović
; Faculty of Medicine, University of Tuzla, Univerzitetska 1, Tuzla 75000, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Sejad Mačkić
; Agromediterraneane Faculty, University Džemal Bijedić, U.S.R.C. Mithad Hujdur Hujka, Mostar 88104, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Alma Leto
; Agromediterraneane Faculty, University Džemal Bijedić, U.S.R.C. Mithad Hujdur Hujka, Mostar 88104, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Ahmed Džubur
; Agromediterraneane Faculty, University Džemal Bijedić, U.S.R.C. Mithad Hujdur Hujka, Mostar 88104, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Boris Antunović
orcid.org/0000-0003-0052-3795
; Faculty of Agriculture, University of J.J. Strossmayer, V. Preloga 1, Osijek 31000, Croatia
Abstract
Contamination of agricultural soils can present a significant risk to human health through oral ingestion, particle inhalation, and dermal contact. The aims of this research were to determinate the concentrations, distribution and human health risk of various heavy metals in soil samples from three agricultural areas of South Herzegovina. A total number of 32 soil samples were collected and analyzed for Lead (Pb), Cadmium (Cd), Cobalt (Co), Copper (Cu), Nickel (Ni), and Zinc (Zn). The Hazard Index (HI) was used to assess the human health risk of the study area. For the adult and children population, the HI value for dermal exposure to Cobalt (Co) was greater than one (HI>1), and non-cancerogenic effects are therefore considered as significant for human health. Our findings impose consideration of taking risk management measures in order to reduce risk for human health from Cobalt (Co).
Keywords
heavy metals; soil; risk assessment
Hrčak ID:
197106
URI
Publication date:
22.3.2018.
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