Assessment of heavy metal pollution and human health risks in urban soils around an electronics manufacturing facility

Heavy metal pollution has pervaded many parts of the world, especially in developing countries. The purpose of this study was to determine the concentrations and health risks of heavy metals in urban soils around an electronics manufacturing site in the Hubei Province of China. Soils samples were collected from commercial, roadside, farmland, and residential areas around the electronics manufacturing facility. A total of 136 topsoil samples were collected, and these samples were analyzed for Cr, Cu, Zn, As, Cd, Ni, and Pb. The geoaccumulation index (Igeo), pollution index (PI), and potential ecological risk index (PER) were calculated to assess the soil pollution levels. The hazard index (HI) was used to assess the human health risks posed by the presence of heavy metals. The total concentrations of the seven congeners (∑metals) ranged from 3738.86 to 5173.25 mg kg−1, and the concentrations were highest in the commercial area followed (in decreasing order) by the roadside, farmland, and residential areas. The HI for children and adults descended in the order of Cr > As > Pb > Cd > Cu > Ni > Zn. The carcinogenic risks of two metals, namely, Cr and As, for children and adults were higher than 10−4, and children faced greater health risks.