Human and environmental health risks associated with eleven metal(loid)s evaluated in topsoil and wild mushrooms sampled from across Leicestershire, UK.
Anthropogenic discharge of metal(loid)s is adding to widespread pollution in urban and rural environments that may exceed limits for safe human and environmental health. The study objectives were to elucidate the presence, distribution, and quantification of eleven metal(loid)s, Be, V, Cr, Mn, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, As, Cd and Pb, that are of toxicological importance in topsoil and their bioaccumulation in wild mushrooms, used as biomonitors from parks across Leicestershire, UK. Moreover, the study assessed human, and ecological health risks to metal(loid) exposure from these sources. Topsoil and wild mushroom samples were collected from parks across Leicestershire. The samples were acid mineralised, followed by metal(loid) concentration evaluation using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. Health risks from exposure to these metal(loid) sources were determined using established methodology. Mean concentrations of metal(loid) per kg dry topsoil from across Leicestershire were ranked: 418.19mg-Mn >119.02mg-Zn >99.29mg-Pb >69.48kg-Cr > 48.65mg-V > 35.45mg-Cu >32.60mg-Ni >5.94mg-As > 9.14mg-Co > 1.04mg-Be > 0.32mg-Cd, respectively. The mean concentrations of metal(loid) per kg dry wild mushrooms from across Leicestershire were ranked: 84.90mg-Zn >80.07mg-Cu >11.75mg-Mn > 2.72mg-Ni > 2.10mg-Pb >1.91mg-Cd > 0.86mg-Cr > 0.19mg-As > 0.09mgV > 0.03mg-Co, respectively. V, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn and Cd concentrations were found to be above their recommended soil screening values. However, individual metal(loid)s found in topsoil samples did not exceed their soil guideline values. However, the pollution load index indicated pollution concern across Leicestershire. Maximum allowed concentrations for Cu, Cd, Pb in wild mushroom were exceeded in samples from NW, NE, SW and SE Leicestershire. As(total) was exceeded in samples from NW Leicestershire. Metal(loid) exposure from topsoil from NW, NE, SW, SE, and rural Leicestershire, potentially harboured increased non-carcinogenic risks to children, no risk to adults was determined. However, potential increased carcinogenic health risks to both adults and children were observed. Metal(loid) exposure associated with consuming P. foenisecii, C. atramentarius, M. citrinomarginata, A. bitorquis and M. oreades foraged from across Leicestershire posed no potential increased non-carcinogenic health risks to adults or children. Carcinogenic risk to children were also found to be acceptable. However, for adults the potential carcinogenic health risk to these metal(loid)s was found to be increased with consuming P. foenisecii, C. atramentarius and M. citrinomarginata. The risk was acceptable with consuming A. bitorquis or M. oreades. Risk of toxic effects to ecological receptors were considered to be acceptable across Leicestershire.
Networked Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations