Ingestion induced health risk in surface waters near tailings ponds (North-Western Romania)

Anthropogenic activities generate most elements of environmental pollution, especially with heavy metals. The paper presents some investigations of several heavy metals (Pb, Cu, Cd, Zn) concentrations, performed on water, sediments and fish samples from Lapuș and Someș Rivers located near tailings ponds, in Baia Mare area, NW Romania. Health hazard calculations related to fish consumption were computed to assess the effect of pollution on human health, based on target hazard quotient (THQ). The results showed that the heavy metals concentrations in the studied samples exceeded maximum admissible concentrations. Individual metal THQ values indicated the relative absence of health risks associated with intake of a single heavy metal through consumption of fish.