Chakraborty, Prasenjeet (2026) Emerging contaminants in soil: Source-oriented probabilistic health risks of potentially toxic elements and environmental impacts in Southern India. Physics and Chemistry of the Earth, Parts A/B/C, 142.
Full text not available from this repository.Abstract
Potentially toxic elements (PTEs) in roadside soils pose serious risks to human health and the environment, with anthropogenic activities being the primary source of contamination. In this study, we evaluated the contamination levels, ecological risks, and human health hazards of heavy metals (Fe, Mn, Cr, Cu, Pb, Ni, Co, Zn) in soil samples collected from Tuticorin, Southern India. Elemental concentrations were determined using Energy Dispersive X-ray Fluorescence (EDXRF) and validated with HISS-1 standard reference material, showing recoveries of 92.3–100 %. Geochemical indices (Igeo, EF, CF, CD, PLI, PERF, PERI, and GUFI) revealed that Cu (Igeo = 2.17; EF = 5.55; CF = 7.70), Zn (Igeo = 1.22; EF = 2.77; CF = 3.71), and Pb (Igeo = 0.60; EF = 1.95; CF = 2.48) were the most enriched metals, reflecting moderate to severe contamination, while Fe, Mn, Co, and Ni were largely of natural origin. Principal component and correlation analyses indicated two main sources of contamination: industrial emissions (thermal power plants, leather industry) and traffic/maritime activities. Ecological risk assessment identified hotspots at sampling points 14, 17, 27–29, and 31–33, primarily due to Cu, Zn, and Pb. Probabilistic human health risk assessment showed that children were exposed to elevated non-carcinogenic risks (THI = 1.90) and carcinogenic risks (TCRI = 4.51 × 10−4), mainly from Cr, Ni, Zn, and Mn, while adults experienced lower risks (THI = 0.26; TCRI = 5.02 × 10−5). These findings highlight the need for continuous monitoring, targeted mitigation, and regulatory measures to control heavy metal contamination in roadside soils and protect vulnerable populations, especially children.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | Soil contamination; Geochemical indices; Toxic elements; Human health risks; Monte Carlo simulations |
| Subjects: | Coal Characterisation |
| Divisions: | UNSPECIFIED |
| Depositing User: | Mr. B. R. Panduranga |
| Date Deposited: | 07 Jul 2026 05:00 |
| Last Modified: | 07 Jul 2026 05:00 |
| URI: | https://cimfr.csircentral.net/id/eprint/3040 |
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