Environmental Health Risk Assessment of Heavy Metals Contamination in the Soils

Rapid industrial activity is causing environmental contamination, which has a negative influence on plant and soil health in particular. In this paper, concentrations of Pb, Cr, As, Cu, Cd, and Ni in agricultural topsoil were evaluated from ten distinct areas of the Kanker district, Northern Bastar area of Chhattisgarh of India, by using an Atomic Absorption spectrometer. The quality of soil samples from different sites was assessed in terms of geoaccumulation index values, contamination factor, pollution load index and slight metal contamination was found in soil samples. Although all samples' HI and Hazard Quotient values were lower than 1.0, demonstrating non-carcinogenetic threats, the carcinogenetic threat in the agricultural soil of Kanker District was beyond the safe reference, i.e., 10−6–10−4. It shows the significant carcinogenetic threat of these toxic elements in the soil of this research area. The findings of this study indicate that, in order to safeguard human health, emphasis should be given to heavy metal remediation in polluted soil.