Heavy metal content in soil-like fractions on the landfills within Volgograd boundaries and assessment of health risk connected to its presence in the environment

The heavy metal content (Cu, Ni, Pb, Zn, and Cd) in a soil-like fraction from two landfills located within the boundaries of Volgograd was described using pollution indices and health risks. The calculated pollution index (PI) values have shown a lack of Pb and Zn pollution in the soil-like fraction from both landfills. For landfill No.1, the pollution level was determined as very high for Cd and as low for Cu and Ni, and for landfill No.2, this level was determined as very high, low, and non-polluted, respectively. The Nemerov integral pollution index (NIPI) values (25.24–43.90 for landfill No. 1 and 10.37–40.38 for landfill No. 2) indicated a high level of pollution in a soil-like fraction with studied elements in both landfills. According to the calculated values of the hazard index (HI), which are significantly lower than 1 in all samples, there is no non-carcinogenic risk for children and adults associated with the presence of a soil-like fraction in the environment. The total potential carcinogenic risks (TCR) associated with the heavy metals in a soil-like fraction were determined to be high for both target groups. The health of a child target group (TCR = 1.30E–03 and 4.87E–04) was found to be more exposed to carcinogenic risk than an adult target group (TCR = 1.40E–04 and 5.21E–05). Because the risk of a carcinogenic effect is high, the use of a soil-like fraction from both landfills for territory reclamation without prior detoxification is not allowed.