Risk Assessment of Chlorothalonil as a Probable Human Carcinogen on Selected Vegetables in an Eastern China Province.

Objectives: This study aimed to provide an assessment of chlorothalonil's possible carcinogenic risk posed to the public. In combination and comparison with the non-carcinogenic risk, the results hopefully could provide useful insights, early warning, and references for policy formulation. Methods: This study firstly investigated the occurrence of chlorothalonil on selected key vegetables for different scenarios, and then conducted an exposure assessment with officially published data. Lastly, both the non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic risk of chlorothalonil were calculated by using Monte-Carlo simulation. Results: Even though mean non-carcinogenic risks of chlorothalonil for all scenarios were below threshold value, the mean carcinogenic risks for maximum-risk scenario and most-likely risk scenario were mostly above threshold value. High probabilities of exceedance of threshold value existed for carcinogenic risk under all scenarios. Conclusion: Potential threat to public health existed for conventionally 'safe' pesticide if considering the possible carcinogenicity. Extra caution should be taken and the potential carcinogenic effects should be included into consideration for better protection of public health during the policy formulation process.

Level, source, and risk assessment of toxic elements in traditional agricultural soils and coping strategies.

The level, source, and risk of toxic elements in traditional agricultural soils are particularly crucial for the sustainable development of agriculture. An important agricultural production base was selected, a total of 251 topsoil samples were collected, eight toxic elements (As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Hg, Ni, Pb, Zn) in soil were analyzed, and environmental and health risk assessments were conducted. Results showed that all concentrations of eight elements in soil samples were lower than the risk screening values with negligible pollution risk. Approximately 83.8% of Hg in soil was originated from atmospheric deposition related to industrial emissions, 53.2% of Cd was derived from direct industrial activities, and the other elements came from soil parent materials or agricultural activities. Accumulation risk of As in agricultural products, potential ecological risk from Cd, and As's ingestion risk and Cr's dermal contact risk should be paid more attention. More stricter monitoring and coping countermeasures and strategies should be established to ensure the sustainable development of agriculture.

Analysis of heavy metal content in edible honeysuckle (Lonicera japonica Thunb.) from China and health risk assessment.

Honeysuckle is a commonly used medicine for health care and treatment. To detect heavy metal pollution in honeysuckle from China and quantify the health risk of heavy metal via dietary intake, the Pb, Cd, Cr, As, Hg, Ni, Mn, Cu, and Zn contents in honeysuckle samples were determined by ICP-MS. The dissolution rate of heavy metals in honeysuckle was measured by decoction and soaking. The hazard quotient (HQ) and total hazard index (HI) were used to evaluate the noncarcinogenic risk of nine heavy metals in honeysuckle, and the carcinogenic risks of Cd and As were evaluated using the carcinogen risk. Cd exhibited the maximum permissive limit standard-exceeding rate (40.2%) in honeysuckle, followed by Cu (37.6%) and Pb (8.5%). As and Hg did not exceed the standard values, and Cr, Ni, Mn, and Zn had no limits. In a decoction fluid after 30 min of boiling, the transfer rates of Pb, Cd, As, Ni, Mn, Cu, and Zn ranged from 11.9% to 19.9%, whereas that of Cr was low (1.0%). In a soaking fluid, the transfer rates ranged from 17.0% to 56.9%; no transfer rate was detected for Hg in neither the decoction fluid nor the soaking fluid. In addition, the 95th percentile Rs of As and Cd in honeysuckle were 5.93 × 10-6 and 8.12 × 10-5, respectively. The carcinogenic risk of Cd at 56.99th percentile reached the threshold set by the World Health Organization (1.0 × 10-5). The results showed that intake of Pb, Cd, Cr, As, Hg, Ni, Mn, Cu, and Zn by the human body through honeysuckle could not cause noncarcinogenic damage. The element As had no carcinogenic risk, but Cd had a carcinogenic risk to a certain extent.