Contamination and health risk assessment of potentially toxic elements in agricultural soil of the Al-Ahsa Oasis, Saudi Arabia using health indices and GIS

The current work aimed to assess contamination and human health risk of potentially toxic elements (PTEs) in agricultural soil of the Al-Ahsa Oasis, Saudi Arabia. For the purpose of evaluating the potential risks to human health associated with ingestion, skin contact, and inhalation, the chronic daily intake (CDI), hazard quotient (HQ), hazard index (HI), cancer risk (CR), and total lifetime cancer risk (LCR) were calculated in 30 soil samples. The spatial distribution and possible sources of HMs were investigated using GIS and multivariate analysis. The descending order of PTE averages (dw, µg/g) was Fe (11790) > Mn (176.43) > Zn (54.43) > Cr (28.67) > Ni (14.53) > V (12.33) > Cu (10.83) > Pb (5.23) > Co (2.87) > As (2.27). The average CDI for all PTEs from ingestion pathway in children indicates an increase of approximated 9 times compared to adults. The HI values varied from 1.969 × 10-4 to 2.318 × 10-2 for Adults, and from 1.835 × 10-3 to 2.158 × 10-1 for children, suggesting there is no significant non-carcinogenic risk to the people inhabiting the Al-Ahsa Oasis. The CRs and LCR for Cr, As, and Pb in children was found to be significantly greater than that of adults. LCR values for As, Pb, and Cr varied from lower than 1 × 10-6 to 1 × 10-4, indicating no significant health hazards to acceptable carcinogenic risk.