Environmental metal contamination and health impact assessment in two industrial regions of Romania

We investigated two Romanian industrial regions-Copp Mica and Zlatna, to assess the current situation of soil pollution and bioaccumulation of Pb, Cd, Cu and Zn in different vegetable species and possible risks to consumers. Both total and mobile forms of the metals were determined in soil samples, and metal content in the edible parts of root vegetable samples was also assessed. The concentrations of Pb and Zn in soil were higher in Copp Mica than in Zlatna (566 mg/kg vs 271 mg/kg for Pb and 1143 mg/kg vs 368 mg/kg for Zn) .The metal mobility in soil from Copsa Mica decreases in the order Zn > Cu > Cd > Pb (1.88 mg/kg, 0.40 mg/kg, 0.22 mg/kg, 0.16 mg/kg, respectively), while in Zlatna, the order was Cu > Zn > Pb > Cd (0.88 mg/kg, 0.29 mg/kg, 0.04 mg/kg, 0.01 mg/kg, respectively), apparently depending on metal and soil conditions. In Copsa Mica, the amount of Pb and Cd in vegetable samples exceeded the maximum permissible limits in carrots (median concentration 032 mg/kg for Pb and Cd) and in yellow onions (median concentration 024 mg/kg for Cd). In Zlatna region, the content of Cd exceeded the maximum limits in yellow onions (median concentration 0.11 mg/kg). The amount of Pb was higher than the maximum acceptable level in carrots from the Zlatna region (median concentration 0.12 mg/kg). Cu and Zn leVels were within the normal range in all vegetable samples. In the Zlatna region, the transfer factors for Pb and Cd were higher in carrots (median values of 9.9 for Pb and 21.0 for Cd) compared to carrots harvested in Copsa Mica (median values of 4.0 for Pb and 2.0 for Cd). Daily intake rates of metals through local vegetable consumption exceeded the limit values established by the European Food Safety Authority for Pb (1.2 to 2.4 times) and Cd (5.5 to 9.1 times) in both regions, with potential adverse health effects for the local population. The results highlight the need for total soil remediation action before fruit and vegetables produced in these polluted areas can be safely consumed. (C) 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.