The human health risks assessment posed by the presence of heavy metals in the rice varieties available in the Neyshabur market.

The present study was designed to determine the levels of heavy metals (Cu, Pb, Ni, Cr, Zn, Mn, Cd, and Co), Mn, and As in Iranian-grown rice and imported rice consumed in Neyshabur City. For this research, 90 samples from 30 different brands widely consumed in this city were collected. The content of heavy metals and the health risks associated with their use were then studied. The study found that Zn (14.21 mg kg-1) had the highest content in Iranian and imported rice varieties, whereas Cd (0.02 mg kg-1) had the lowest value. The health risk assessment was also done in three scenarios and separately for two types of rice. The results showed that the total hazard quotient (i.e., THQ) was measured for all metals and all three scenarios, and for both types of rice, it is THQ > 1, which indicates the risk of non-carcinogenic in rice. The cancer risk for three scenarios and two types of imported and Iranian rice is in the unsafe range for As (8.80 × 10-4 to 7.00 × 10-3), Ni (4.60 × 10-4 to 3.60 × 10-3) and Cr (2.20 × 10-4 to 1.90 × 10-3) and negligible for Pb (1.09 × 10-6 to 1.49 × 10-5) and Cd (7.83 × 10-6 to 8.20 × 10-5).

Separation and identification of snuff constituents by using GC-MS and ICP-OES as well as health risk assessment of some existing heavy metals.

The identification of volatile organic components in snuff was accomplished using GC-MS analysis in this study. The findings of the GC-MS analysis revealed the presence of nicotine, its derivatives, and several other toxic chemicals that are hazardous to human health. Furthermore, the content of 34 elements in four brands of snuff consumed in Neyshabur City was determined by ICP-OES analysis (with five repetitions). The health hazards of measured heavy elements were examined from two perspectives: carcinogenic (7 heavy elements were checked) and non-carcinogenic (4 heavy elements were checked). The investigation of non-carcinogenic hazards from inhalation was based on the computation of the hazard quotient (HQ) factor, and the results indicated that inhaling five heavy metals, Cu, Pb, Ni, Zn, and Cd, does not represent a substantial health risk ((HQ < 1). In contrast, the computed HQ factors for Cr and As were relatively high (1 < HQ < 10), indicating a substantial health risk from breathing these two elements. The carcinogenic factor (CR value) results revealed that the degree of carcinogenic risk for Cd was very low (CR value less than 1 × 10-6) and did not pose a concern to the consumer population. However, the risk of As, Cr, and Ni exposure is considerable in the carcinogenic risk range (CR values between 1 × 10-6 and 1 × 10-4).

Heavy metal contaminated soil, water, and vegetables in northeastern Iran: potential health risk factors.

Purpose: This study was designed to measure the concentrations of heavy (Pb, Cu, Fe, Ni, and Zn) metals in water, soil, and frequently edible leafy vegetables in the Iranian population and assessed the carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic health risk in consumers. Methods: The samples of soil, water, and vegetables were collected from forms near the Tehran-Mashhad highway in Neyshabur, Iran. The content of heavy metals in the samples was analyzed using Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometry. Results: The average concentrations of Pb, Cu, Fe, Ni, and Zn were 5.56, 3.35, 4.74, 2.95, and 5.27 mg/kg, respectively. Lead concentration in all of the vegetable samples was higher than the permissible value endorsed by the World Health Organization (WHO) / Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). In contrast, the concentrations of all the other heavy metals in the samples were less than the maximum permissible levels recommended by WHO/FAO. Similarly, the water and soil samples were highly contaminated by Lead. The hazard quotient (HQ) of all the heavy metals was distinctively less than one, and it did not exceed 0.3 in any of the age groups. Furthermore, the carcinogenic risk for nickel was only higher than the recommended value, especially in women. Conclusion: While it seems that consuming vegetables has no acute health risk related to heavy metals, long-term and regular ingestion of the vegetables are likely to make cancer risk. Besides, due to the high concentration of Pb in soil and vegetables, regular and integrated assessment of heavy metals in soil, water, and food is necessary.

Heavy metal concentrations and health risk assessment in urban soils of Neyshabur, Iran.

This study aimed to determine and analyze heavy metal pollution in the street dust of Neyshabur city of Iran. In this regard, the concentration of ten heavy metals, including Al, Fe, Mn, Zn, Cu, Cr, Ni, Pb, Co, and Cd, was measured at 60 street dust samples. The samples from Neyshabur city in three zones were collected, including high traffic, low traffic, and rural. Twenty samples in each area, 10-sample in summer and 10-sample in winter, were studied. The average concentration of the target heavy metals (mg kg-1) in the street dust samples was as follows: 50514.09 for Al, 42473.33 for Fe, 647.4 for Mn, 230.07 for Zn, 146.44 for Cu, 96.18 for Cr, 73.25 for Ni, 40.56 for Pb, 14.86 for Co, and 1.32 for Cd. Based on the findings, it can be concluded that non-carcinogenic risk assessment for all quantified heavy metals was less than the allowed values. In addition, the carcinogenic risk assessment of these metals indicated high carcinogenic-risk indexes through exposure to Cr for adults and exposure to Cr, Co, and Ni for children. As a consequence of this investigation, efforts to avoid the transmission of heavy metals in the environmental soil of Neyshabur city should be encouraged.

Assessment of Heavy Metal Pollution and Human Health Risks Assessment in Soils Around an Industrial Zone in Neyshabur, Iran.

Heavy metal pollution of soils in industrial zones continues to attract attention because of its potential human health risks. The present research is an attempt to assess the pollution status of heavy metals including As, Cd, Cr, Ni, and Pb using various indices like contamination factor (CF), pollution index (IPOLL), and geo-accumulation index (Igeo). In total, 60 surface soil samples were collected from four area (north, south, east, and west) in Khayyam industrial zone from depths of 10-20 cm. The results indicated that average metal concentration ranges (in mg/kg) observed in study soils were 8.84, 1.9, 37.66, 15.77, and 57.33 for As, Cd, Cr, Ni, and Pb, respectively. The concentrations of heavy metals As, Cr, Ni, and Pb with the exception of Cd in soils of southern areas of the industrial zone were higher. Cd concentration vary negligibly in sampling sites of north, south, east, and west. Based on the CF, IPOLL, and Igeo indices, the pollution of soil in regard to concentration of heavy metals was in the following order: Cd > As > Pb > Ni > Zn. Industrial activities have therefore resulted in elevated concentrations of so in the soil environments in the Khayyam industrial zone. Based on the results of human health risk assessments, the soil metals pose negligible carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic risks to the adults and children living in this area. The need for the monitoring of the soil around the industrial zone, especially for Cd and As, is needed to reduce potential environmental issues.

Assessment of scaling and corrosion potential of drinking water resources of Iranshahr.

The aim of this study was to evaluate corrosion and scaling potential of drinking water resources Iranshahr in order to considering necessary solutions to solve possible problems including internal corrosion of pipes, deterioration of water quality and reduce of water transfer capacity of distribution network system. The data showed that Langelier index ranged between -1.53 to -0.96, Ryznar index between 9.63-10.54, Aggressive index between 12.04 and 12.91, and Puckorius index between 9.05-10.68 for drinking water resources Iranshahr. Studied indices indicated that the drinking water in Iranshahr can be considered as corrosive.

Using the combined model of gamma test and neuro-fuzzy system for modeling and estimating lead bonds in reservoir sediments.

Heavy metals attract a great deal of attention nowadays due to their potential accumulation in living creatures and transference in the food chain. Sediments of water reservoirs are considered to be a source of accumulation of these metals that develop in response to human activities and soil erosion. This study collected 180 samples of the surface sediments of water reservoir 1 at Chahnimeh in Sistan. Efficiency of the ANFIS model was evaluated to estimate the five bonds following the measurement of parameters in the laboratory.The following results were obtained for the parameters: organic carbon (OC) %, 0.31; cation exchange capacity (CEC), 37.07 Cmol kg; total Pb, 25.19 mg/kg; clay %, 45.87; and silt %, 39.02. These parameters were used as input for the training model. In the output layer, lead bonds were chosen as modeling targets in the following way: Pb f1 (4.61); Pb f2 (0.54); Pb f3 (16.28); Pb f4 (3.42); and Pb f5 (0.38) mg/kg. The best input compound in this model was chosen using the gamma test. From a total of 180, 88 data were considered for the model training section. Eventually, the neural-fuzzy model (subtractive clustering), developed for the prediction of lead bonds in the studied region, was able to account for over 99% of lead bonds in the sediments; considering statistical criteria of root mean squares error or RMSE (0.0337-0.0813) and determination coefficient or R2 (0.92-0.99), this model showed good performance with regard to prediction.

Fractionation of heavy metals in bottom sediments in Chahnimeh 1, Zabol, Iran.

In the present study, 180 sediment samples were collected from the Chahnimeh 1 reservoir to investigate the concentration of metal and sequential extraction. Five geochemical phases (exchangeable fraction, carbonate fraction, Fe/Mn oxide fraction, organic fraction and residual fraction) for the determination of the speciation of heavy metals (Zn, Fe, Cd, Pb, Mn, Ni) as proposed by Tessier was applied to sediments collected from Chahnimeh 1. Results were obtained for nickel and cadmium, as over 40 % of metal was present in the exchangeable phase and bound to carbonate. According to the risk assessment code (RAC), sediments that have 31 to 50 % carbonate and exchangeable fraction are high risk. Similar results were obtained for zinc and lead. The major fraction of the two metals (63 % of the total concentration for lead and 85 % of the total concentration for zinc) occurred in the residual phase and fraction-bound hydrous Fe-Mn oxides. The risk assessment showed moderate risk for lead and no risk for zinc. This indicates that the Igeo and IPOLL used in the present investigation showed no pollution to moderate pollution in terms of metals in sediments.