Human health risk assessment of an abandoned metal smelter site in Shenyang, China
沈阳某冶炼厂废弃厂区的人类健康风险评价

Based on the investigation of heavy metal pollutions on an abandoned metal smelter site in Shenyang, and by using the United States Environmental Protection Agency methodologies for human health risk assessment, the human health risk of the polluted soil on the study site was assessed. For the defined future land use patterns, the industrial (I) and recreational (II) exposure scenarios were assumed and evaluated. The combined hazard index for all the contaminants of potential concern was 2.65 x 10(-2) for Scenario I and 3.67 x 10(-2) for Scenario II. Regarding the potential carcinogenic risk associated with inhalation route, only cadmium was a contributor, with the risk of 4.48 x 10(-9) and 7.30 x 10(-10) for Scenario I and Scenario II, respectively. The hazard indices were less than a unit, and the carcinogenic health risk was negligible. The potential health risks of the study site (for both industrial and recreational scenarios) were mainly associated with the exposure to copper. The risk-based remedial goals calculated for the industrial scenario were lower than the environment quality risk assessment criteria for soil at the manufacturing facilities of China.