Chronic exposure assessment of toxic elements from agricultural soils around the industrial areas of Tangail district, Bangladesh

The present research was conducted to evaluate the potential ecological and human health risk of toxic elements (Cr, Ni, Cu, As, Cd and Pb) from agricultural soils around the industrial areas of Tangail district in Bangladesh. Potential ecological and human health risk were assessed through enrichment factor (EF), contamination factor (Cⁱ_f), geoaccumulation index (I_geo), pollution load index (PLI), toxic unit analysis, exposure pathway, hazard quotient and hazard index. The mean concentration of Cr, Ni, Cu, As, Cd and Pb in the studied soils were 5.88, 13.92, 18.07, 5.90, 2.19 and 8.08 mg/kg, respectively. The mean values of enrichment factor, geoaccumulation index, contamination factor, pollution load index and toxic units were found low for all metals excluding Cd. Considering the severity of potential ecological risk factor for single metal (Eⁱ_r), the descending order of pollutants was Cd > As > Cu > Ni > Pb > Cr. In the perspective of potential ecological risk (PER), soils from all sampling sites indicated moderate to very high PER. Chronic daily intake values were higher in children than the adult for both ingestion and dermal contact as body weight of children was lower than the adult. The non-cancer health risks related to individual element exposure through soil ingestion, dermal contact and inhalation was low for all investigated elements resulted in a HQ < 1, indicating low risk for both adults and children. Considering the total exposure of hazard index of ingestion, dermal contact and inhalation, there was no chance of having non-cancer risk for the inhabitants of the studied industrial area. Carcinogenic risks for both adult and children lying between an acceptable ranges.