Health Risk Assessment of Heavy Metal Contaminated Sites in India

Abstract

Due to various health risks associated with contaminated sites, health risk assessment has gained a lot of attention among the researchers worldwide. Health risk analysis is also one of the elementary steps involved in the selection of a cleanup program for a site. In this paper, the non carcinogenic (as Hazard Index) and carcinogenic health risks are evaluated for the three contaminated sites located in different parts of India i.e. Balanagar industrial area (Hyderabad), Pali industrial area (Rajasthan) and Surat industrial area situated in south Gujarat, to identify the potential health risks to human involved with the exposure to the site. Analysis was made for three receptors (i.e., child, adult and industrial worker) by considering three types of exposure pathways (ingestion, inhalation and dermal contact). Results demonstrated site 1 to be highly contaminated as the induced risks were much higher than safe level. Site 2 was mainly polluted by Cr and Pb only. High carcinogenic risk was induced with the exposure to site 3 due to accumulation of high concentration of Cr.