Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Health risk evaluation of heavy metals in green land soils from urban parks in Urumqi, northwest China

  • Research Article
  • Published:
Environmental Science and Pollution Research Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Here, we sampled, tested, and analyzed heavy metals in soil obtained from green land in urban parks of Urumqi. Analysis included soil nutrient contents, particle size distribution, and health risks of heavy metal contaminants. Results showed that (1) organic matter and rapidly available phosphorus contents of all samples ranged from 6.07–58.34 and 6.52–116.15 mg/kg, with average values of 31.26 and 36.24 mg/kg, respectively; (2) silt (particle size 20–200 μm) comprised most of the particle distribution, accounting for 46.56–87.38% of the total, and the remaining particles were clay particles (0–20 μm) and sand (200–2000 μm); (3) calculations of HQing, HQinh, and HQderm for eight heavy metals in three exposure patterns revealed values less than 1 for children and adults, indicating a level of carcinogenic risk for these heavy metals; and (4) calculating the carcinogenic risks of nickel, chromium, and cadmium through breathing pathway indicating no potential carcinogenic risk for any of the three. This research showed high soil nutrient content, providing fertile ground for plant growth in the green land of these urban parks. However, measures such as using sprinklers and increased green vegetation areas have been proposed to improve soil texture. This research can serve as a reference point for soil environmental protection efforts as well as future plant growth in urban Urumqi parks.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Abuduwaili J, Zhaoyong Z, Jiang F (2015) Assessment of the distribution, sources and potential ecological risk of heavy metals in the dry surface sediment of Aibi Lake in northwest China. PLoS One 10(3):e0120001. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0120001

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ali H, Khan E, Sajad MA (2013) Phytoremediation of heavy metals—concepts and applications. Chemosphere 91(7):869–881. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2013.01.075

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Beijing Quality Engineering Supervision Bureau (BQESB) (2009) The venue environment evaluation guide (DBll/T 656-2009). (In Chinese)

  • Benhaddya ML, Boukhelkhal A, Halis Y, Hadjel M (2016) Human health risks associated with metals from urban soil and road dust in an oilfield area of southeastern Algeria. Arch Environ Contam Toxicol 70(3):556–571. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00244-015-0244-6

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Benis MRS, Hassani AH, Nouri J, Mehregan I, Moattar F (2015) The effect of soil properties and plant species on the absorption of heavy metals in industrial sewage contaminated soil: a case study of Eshtehard Industrial Park. Bulg Chem Commun 47:211–219

    Google Scholar 

  • Chen LS, Chen ZL, Xiao JQ, Peng XC, Dong JH (2011) The status and evaluation of soil heavy metal pollution in Zhuzhou City Park. Environ Pollut Control 33(8):91–94 (In Chinese)

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • China’s State Environmental Protection Agency (CSEPA) (1990) Standards for the quality of soil environment of the state of the People’s Republic of China. (In Chinese)

  • Congeevaram S, Dhanarani S, Park J, Dexilin M, Thamaraiselvi K (2007) Biosorption of chromium and nickel by heavy metal resistant fungal and bacterial isolates. J Hazard Mater 146(1):270–277. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhazmat.2006.12.017

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Dao L, Morrison L, Zhang H, Zhang C (2014) Influences of traffic on Pb, Cu and Zn concentrations in roadside soils of an urban park in Dublin, Ireland. Environ Geochem Health 36(3):333–343. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10653-013-9553-8

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Dong LL, Zheng FL (2010) Fractal characteristics of soil particle size distributions in gully-hilly regions of the Loess Plateau, north of Shaanxi, China. Soil 42(2):302–308 (In Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Dong JM, Xia L, Yu Y, Lang JY (2016) Advances in the study of respiratory exposure parameters of environmental health risk assessment in adolescent physical activity. Chin J Sports Med 35(7):664–668 (In Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Du Y, Gao B, Zhou H, Ju X, Hao H, Yin S (2013) Health risk assessment of heavy metals in road dusts in urban parks of Beijing, China. Procedia Environ Sci 18:299–309. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.proenv.2013.04.039

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Gabriel J, Baldrian P, Rychlovský P, Krenželok M (1997) Heavy metal content in wooddecaying fungi collected in Prague and in the National Park Šumavain the Czech Republic. Bull Environ Contam TOxicol. 59(4):595-602.

  • Gąsiorek M, Kowalska J, Mazurek R, Pająk M (2017) Comprehensive assessment of heavy metal pollution in topsoil of historical urban park on an example of the Planty Park in Krakow (Poland). Chemosphere 179:148–158. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2017.03.106

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gržetić I, Ghariani ARH (2008) Potential health risk assessment for soil heavy metal contamination in the central zone of Belgrade (Serbia). J Serb Chem Soc 73(8–9):923–934

    Google Scholar 

  • Gu YG, Gao YP, Lin Q (2016) Contamination, bioaccessibility and human health risk of heavy metals in exposed-lawn soils from 28 urban parks in southern China’s largest city, Guangzhou. Appl Geochem 67:52–58

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hu RJ (2004) China Tianshan natural geography. China Environmental Science Press, Beijing (In Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Huang (2009) Study on the contents and physicochemical properties of soil heavy metals in Xi’an Park. Master thesis of Shanxi Normal University

  • Jaishankar M, Tseten T, Anbalagan N, Mathew BB, Beeregowda KN (2014) Toxicity, mechanism and health effects of some heavy metals. Interdiscip Toxicol 7(2):60–72. https://doi.org/10.2478/intox-2014-0009

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ji K, Kim J, Lee M, Park S, Kwon HJ, Cheong HK, Lee KY (2013) Assessment of exposure to heavy metals and health risks among residents near abandoned metal mines in Goseong, Korea. Environ Pollut 178:322–328. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2013.03.031

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Karim Z, Qureshi BA (2014) Health risk assessment of heavy metals in urban soil of Karachi, Pakistan. Hum Ecol Risk Assess 20(3):658–667. https://doi.org/10.1080/10807039.2013.791535

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Khan K, Lu Y, Khan H, Ishtiaq M, Khan S, Waqas M, Wang T (2013) Heavy metals in agricultural soils and crops and their health risks in Swat District, northern Pakistan. Food Chem Toxicol 58:449–458. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fct.2013.05.014

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kim KC, Park YB, Lee MJ, Kim JB, Huh JW, Kim DH, Kim JC (2008) Levels of heavy metals in candy packages and candies likely to be consumed by small children. Food Res Int 41(4):411–418. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodres.2008.01.004

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Li Z, Ma Z, van der Kuijp TJ, Yuan Z, Huang L (2014a) A review of soil heavy metal pollution from mines in China: pollution and health risk assessment. Sci Total Environ 468:843–853. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2013.08.090

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Li P, Xue SY, Wang SL, Nan ZR (2014b) Pollution evaluation and health risk assessment of heavy metals from atmospheric deposition in Lanzhou. Environ Sci 35(3):1021–1028 (In Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Linde M, Bengtsson H, Öborn I (2001) Concentrations and pools of heavy metals in urban soils in Stockholm, Sweden. Water Air Soil Pollut Focus 1(3):83–101

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Liu ZQ, Xing LL (2016) Research on the spatial distribution and variation characteristics of urban green level in China. North Hortic 6:74–79 (In Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Liu L, Zhang X, Zhong T (2016) Pollution and health risk assessment of heavy metals in urban soil in China. Hum Ecol Risk Assess 22(2):424–434. https://doi.org/10.1080/10807039.2015.1078226

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lu RK (1999) Agricultural chemical analysis of soil. China Agricultural Science and Technology Press, Beijing (In Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Luo XS, Ding J, Xu B, Wang YJ, Li HB, Yu S (2012) Incorporating bio accessibility into human health risk assessments of heavy metals in urban park soils. Sci Total Environ 424:88–96. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2012.02.053

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Madrid L, Díaz-Barrientos E, Madrid F (2002) Distribution of heavy metal contents of urban soils in parks of Seville. Chemosphere 49(10):1301–1308. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0045-6535(02)00530-1

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Manta DS, Angelone M, Bellanca A, Neri R, Sprovieri M (2002) Heavy metals in urban soils: a case study from the city of Palermo (Sicily), Italy. Sci Total Environ 300(1):229–243. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0048-9697(02)00273-5

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Mazurek R, Kowalska J, Gąsiorek M, Zadrożny P, Józefowska A, Zaleski T, Orłowska K (2017) Assessment of heavy metals contamination in surface layers of Roztocze National Park forest soils (SE Poland) by indices of pollution. Chemosphere 168:839–850. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2016.10.126

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ministry of Environmental Protection of the People’s Republic of China (MEPPRC) (2009) Environmental Quality Standards for Soil of China (GB15618-2009)

  • Mo LP, Lin Q, Xie XC, Yang SY, Huang W, Xu HK, Ji JR (2011) Contents and potential risks evaluation of heavy metals of the green land soil of parks in Nanning. J Guangxi Teach Educ Univ Nat Sci Ed 28:1–4 (In Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Morton-Bermea O, Hernández-Álvarez E, González-Hernández G, Romero F, Lozano R, Beramendi-Orosco LE (2009) Assessment of heavy metal pollution in urban topsoils from the metropolitan area of Mexico City. J Geochem Explor 101(3):218–224. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gexplo.2008.07.002

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Nadal M, Schuhmacher M,Domingo JL (2004) Metal pollution of soils and vegetation in an area with petrochemical industry. Sci Total Environ 321(1):59-69.

  • National Soil Census Office of China (NSCO) (1985) National second soil survey nutrition classification standard of China. (In Chinese)

  • Onder S, Dursun S, Gezgin S, Demirbas A (2007) Determination of heavy metal pollution in grass and soil of city centre green areas (Konya, Turkey). Pol J Environ Stud 16(1):145–154

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Park JH, Choppala GK, Bolan NS, Chung JW, Chuasavathi T (2011) Biochar reduces the bioavailability and phytotoxicity of heavy metals. Plant Soil 348(1–2):439–451. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-011-0948-y

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Peng H, Horton R, Lei T, Dai Z, Wang X (2015) A modified method for estimating fine and coarse fractal dimensions of soil particle size distributions based on laser diffraction analysis. J Soils Sediments 15(4):937–948. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11368-014-1044-8

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Prosperini N, Perugini D (2008) Particle size distributions of some soils from the Umbria region (Italy): fractal analysis and numerical modelling. Geoderma 145(3):185–195. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geoderma.2008.03.004

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Shi GT, Chen ZL, Xu SY, Wang L, Zhang J, Li HW, Li LN (2007) Characteristics of heavy metal pollution in soil and dust of urban parks in Shanghai. Environ Sci 28(2):238–242 (In Chinese)

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Stephens WE, Calder A, Newton J (2005) Source and health implications of high toxic metal concentrations in illicit tobacco products. Environ Sci Technol 39(2):479–488. https://doi.org/10.1021/es049038s

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Tao XL, Chen MX, Zhang WZ, Bai YP (2013) Classification and its relationship with the functional analysis of urban parks: taking Beijing as an example. Geogr Res 32(10):1964–1976 (In Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Urumqi Bureau of Statistics, Xinjiang, China (UBSX) (2016) Statistical bulletin of the National Economic and Social Development in Urumqi in 2015. (In Chinese)

  • USEPA (1989) Risk assessment guidance for superfund. Vol I. human health evaluation manual. Office of Emergency and Remedial Response, Washington, DC

    Google Scholar 

  • USEPA (2002) Supplemental guidance for developing soil screening levels for super fund sites. Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response, Washington, DC, pp 1–106

    Google Scholar 

  • Wang J, Yan LSH (1993) Basic procedures and methods of health risk assessment. Res Environ Sci 05:52–56. (In Chinese).

    Google Scholar 

  • Wang ZS, Wu T, Dusan XL, Wang S, Zhang WJ, Wu XF, Yu YJ (2009) Research on inhalation rate exposure factors of Chinese residents in environmental health risk assessment. Human exposure factors of Chinese people in environmental health risk assessment. Res Environ Sci 22(10):1171–1175 (In Chinese)

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wang L, Lu X, Ren C, Li X, Chen C (2014) Contamination assessment and health risk of heavy metals in dust from Changqing industrial park of Baoji, NW China. Environ Earth Sci 71(5):2095–2104. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-013-2613-7

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wei B, Jiang F, Li X, Mu S (2009) Spatial distribution and contamination assessment of heavy metals in urban road dusts from Urumqi, NW China. Microchem J 93(2):147–152. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.microc.2009.06.001

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wu S, Peng S, Zhang X, Wu D, Luo W, Zhang T, Wu L (2015) Levels and health risk assessments of heavy metals in urban soils in Dongguan, China. J Geochem Explor 148:71–78. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gexplo.2014.08.009

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Xia HD, Xi CZ, Dai TG, Deng HJ (2009) Investigation and evaluation on heavy metal in soil of Changsha parks. Guang Dong Sheng Wei Liang Yuan Su Ke Xue 16(10):41–49 (In Chinese)

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Xu FY, Chen X (2013) Distribution and assessment on heavy metals in green belt soils of Chongqing. Proceedings of the Fifth National Symposium on Agricultural Environmental Science, pp 244–247. (In Chinese)

  • Yang Y, YJ Y, Yang J, Xie QY, Li DL (2013) Exposure parameters of human activity pattern in Taihu Lake basin. J Environ Health 3:230–234

    Google Scholar 

  • Yi ZW (2008) Evaluation on the suitability of garden plants in Urumqi. Xinjiang Agricultural University Academic Dissertation

  • Yi Y, Yang Z, Zhang S (2011) Ecological risk assessment of heavy metals in sediment and human health risk assessment of heavy metals in fishes in the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River basin. Environ Pollut 159(10):2575–2585. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2011.06.011

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Yu FZ, Qi FY, Li BJ, Shan YB, Li SF (2009) Heavy metal pollution estimation and investigation of soils in Xu zhou urban green belt. Urban Environ Urban Ecol 22(3):20–24 (In Chinese)

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Yuswir NS, Praveena SM, Aris AZ, Norkhadijah S, Ismail S, Hashim Z (2015) Health risk assessment of heavy metal in urban surface soil (Klang District, Malaysia). Bull Environ Contam Toxicol 95(1):80–89. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00128-015-1544-2

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zan SP, Zhu Y, Wei YX (2006) Study on the actuality and characteristics of the built greenbelt systems in Urumqi. Arid Zone Res 23(1):177–182 (In Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Zhao Q, Wang Y, Cao Y, Chen A, Ren M, Ge Y, Ruan L (2014a) Potential health risks of heavy metals in cultivated topsoil and grain, including correlations with human primary liver, lung and gastric cancer, in Anhui province, eastern China. Sci Total Environ 470:340–347. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2013.09.086

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zhao L, Xu Y, Hou H, Shangguan Y, Li F (2014b) Source identification and health risk assessment of metals in urban soils around the Tanggu chemical industrial district, Tianjin, China. Sci Total Environ 468:654–662. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2013.08.094

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zheng N, Liu J, Wang Q, Liang Z (2010) Health risk assessment of heavy metal exposure to street dust in the zinc smelting district, northeast of China. Sci Total Environ 408(4):726–733. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2009.10.075

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zheng J, Chen KH, Yan X, Chen SJ, GC H, Peng XW, Yang ZY (2013) Heavy metals in food, house dust, and water from an e-waste recycling area in South China and the potential risk to human health. Ecotoxicol Environ Saf 9:205–212

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Funding

This research was supported by the joint fund for the National Natural Science Foundation of China, Government of Xinjiang Autonomous Region (No. U1603241), National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 41501541), High-level Talent Introduction Program of Xinjiang Autonomous Region (2016), Doctoral Start-up Fund of Xinjiang University (No. 62346), and Scientific Research Start-up Project for College Teachers of Xinjiang Autonomous Region (2016).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. College of Resource and Environment Sciences/Xinjiang Common University Key Laboratory of Smart City and Environmental Stimulation, Xinjiang University, 14 Shengli Road, Tianshan Region, Urumqi, 830046, People’s Republic of China

    Zhang Zhaoyong, Yang Xiaodong & Zibibula Simay

  2. Key Laboratory of Oasis Ecology, Ministry of Education, Xinjiang University, Urumqi, 830046, People’s Republic of China

    Zhang Zhaoyong, Yang Xiaodong & Zibibula Simay

  3. College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Xinjiang University, Urumqi, 830046, People’s Republic of China

    Anwar Mohammed

Authors
  1. Zhang Zhaoyong
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Yang Xiaodong
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Zibibula Simay
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Anwar Mohammed
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Zibibula Simay.

Additional information

Responsible editor: Philippe Garrigues

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Zhaoyong, Z., Xiaodong, Y., Simay, Z. et al. Health risk evaluation of heavy metals in green land soils from urban parks in Urumqi, northwest China. Environ Sci Pollut Res 25, 4459–4473 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-017-0737-0

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-017-0737-0

Keywords

Search

Navigation