Probabilistic Risk Assessment and Integrated Statistical Modelling to Identify the Key Factors in Acute and Chronic Arsenic Toxicity Among Schoolchildren for Proactive Toxicity Management

Health risks of arsenic and chromium in groundwater and surface water in India: A systematic review

Groundwater arsenic contamination poses a major public health threat in India, while evidence on chromium ingestion risks are limited, and higher non-carcinogenic risk was reported from groundwater than surface water, especially via dermal exposure in children.

Source apportionment and health risk assessment of arsenic contamination in groundwater in Xinxiang city based on the PCA-PMF model and WQI method

Age-dependent health risk assessment and excess lifetime cancer risk from radon in groundwater of northeastern Iraq

Abstract Naturally occurring radon in groundwater represents a significant public health concern due to exposure through both ingestion and inhalation. This study investigated radon concentrations across 30 groundwater samples collected from northeastern Iraq, together with associated physicochemical parameters and radiological risk assessments. Measured radon concentrations spanned from 2.9 to 29.7 Bq L−1, with a mean of 12.5 Bq L−1. Approximately 43.3 % of the sampled sites exceeded the USEPA guideline, whereas all concentrations remained below the WHO and UNSCEAR limits. Radiological health risk indicators, including annual effective dose via ingestion and inhalation pathways and excess lifetime cancer risk, were evaluated across three different age groups. Although the overall total annual effective dose remained beneath the WHO recommended limit of 0.1 mSv y−1, infants recorded higher dose values than both children and adults, with five sampling locations surpassing this threshold specifically for the infant group. Excess lifetime cancer risk estimates across all age categories fell within USEPA acceptable boundaries. Pearson correlation, skewness, kurtosis, and Shapiro-Wilk statistical tests were applied to examine relationships between radon levels and water quality indicators. Findings highlight the need for targeted mitigation interventions, continuous environmental monitoring, and community awareness initiatives to reduce long-term waterborne radon health risks.

Assessment of Human Health Risks Posed by Soil Contamination with Heavy Metals and Arsenic in a City with the Developed Metalworking Industry

Introduction: The study was conducted to assess health risks posed by soil pollution to the population of Kolchugino, one of the old industrial centers of the Vladimir Region. Objective: To assess carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic health risks to the population of the city of Kolchugino caused by soil pollution with heavy metals and arsenic from metal works. Materials and Methods: Health risk assessment was conducted in accordance with Russian Guidelines R 2.1.10.3968–23 based on soil concentrations of gross forms of As, Co, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb, and Zn measured in the city of Kolchugino in 2023. Both carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic risks from oral, inhalation, and dermal exposures were calculated by three age groups (children under 7 years of age, children aged 7–17 years, and adults aged 18 years and over). Statistical processing and mathematical calculations were performed using Microsoft Excel. Results: We established that values of the total carcinogenic risk were acceptable and ranged from 4.92×10–5 to 6.99×10–5. Ingestion was the priority route of exposure contributing the most to the carcinogenic risk and the total hazard index. The highest hazard indices were estimated for children under 7 years of age. Contamination of urban soils with heavy metals and arsenic posed the highest risks of disorders of the skin and of the nervous, cardiovascular, respiratory, and endocrine systems in the population of Kolchugino. The limitations of the study were related to exposure estimates, reference doses, and slope factors. Conclusion: Our findings show that carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic health risks posed by soil contamination in the industrial city of Kolchugino are within acceptable limits. The central nervous system, especially in children, is the most vulnerable to non-carcinogenic effects of heavy metals.

Recent and ever exposure predictors of urinary pesticide biomarkers among children in South Africa: A two - year longitudinal study.

Residents of agricultural regions are exposed to complex mixtures of agricultural and household pesticides, yet determinants of exposure remain poorly characterized in low-and middle-income countries, limiting accurate exposure assessment and health risk evaluation. This study aimed to identify self-reported recent and ever behavioural and environmental factors associated with urinary pesticide biomarker levels among children living in three agricultural areas of the Western Cape, South Africa. Between 2017 and 2019, 533 children aged 9-15 years provided 1,814 spot urine samples and completed exposure questionnaires up to five times. Parents and children provided information on exposure factors such as farm residence, use of household pesticides, seeing spray drifts and various pesticide exposure activities. Fourteen biomarkers of pyrethroids, organophosphates, triazoles and dithiocarbamates were quantified using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry and corrected for specific gravity. Associations between exposure factors and biomarker levels were evaluated using linear mixed-effects models. Recent household pesticide use was associated with up to 57% higher levels of 12 biomarkers, while recent spray drifts exposure was associated with up to 30% higher levels of eight biomarkers. Ever household pesticide use and ever exposure to spray drifts were associated with up to 30% higher levels of IMPy, 2,4-D and 4F3PBA. Use of open drinking water sources was associated with higher TCPy, BCP and ETU levels. Recent exposure factors were consistently associated with urinary biomarker levels than ever exposure factors. The identified exposure factors can inform pesticide exposure characterization in epidemiological analyses and targeted interventions to reduce children's exposure in agricultural communities.

Probabilistic assessment of cumulative heavy metal exposure from staple foods in a selenium-endemic area: Implications for dietary risk management.

While selenium (Se) exposure in endemic poisoning areas has been extensively investigated, its co-occurrence with other heavy metals and the implications for integrated environmental health management remain insufficiently addressed. This study developed a risk-based dietary optimization framework by assessing the concentrations, spatial distribution, and probabilistic health risks of 24 elements in four staple crops (rice, maize, potato, and sweet potato) collected from Shuang'an Township, a recognized human Se poisoning area in China. Results revealed widespread exceedances of maximum limits (ML) for Cd, Se, Cr, Zn, and Cu, with Cd (65.8% of samples exceeded ML; maximum exceedance factor = 145.7) and Se (52.1% exceeded ML; maximum exceedance factor = 56.3) posing the most significant risks. Potatoes exhibited the highest contamination levels among all crops. Monte Carlo simulations demonstrated that dietary composition substantially influenced cumulative health risks, with total target hazard quotient (TTHQ) values ranging from 9 to 24 under different consumption scenarios. Potato intake showed a significant positive correlation with TTHQ (r = 0.67, p < 0.05), whereas sweet potato intake showed a significant negative correlation (r = -0.71, p < 0.05), indicating sweet potato as a comparatively lower-risk alternative. The proposed probabilistic framework provides useful information for dietary risk management in Se-endemic areas. These findings highlight the necessity of shifting from a Se-centered management perspective toward integrated multi-metal risk control strategies in Se-endemic areas.