Exposure Levels, Health Risks, Spatially Distribution, Multivariate Statistics and Positive Matrix Factorization Model of Heavy Metals from Wild solid Waste Dumpsites

The disposal of waste at wild dumpsites poses significant environmental challenges. This study evaluates heavy metal (HM) contamination in soil around wild dumpsites in Bijeljina-Zvornik, Republic of Srpska, Bosnia and Herzegovina. Forty-five soil samples were analyzed for Ni, Cr, Mn, Zn, Cu, Pb, Cd, Fe, and Al. The highest concentrations observed were for Fe (average 9211.96 mg/kg, maximum 33,275.16 mg/kg) and Zn (average 109.76 mg/kg, maximum 1054.24 mg/kg). The highest daily total exposure dose (ADD) for both adults and children was for Fe, with ADDing for children at 7.07E-01 mg/kg/day and for adults at 3.03E-01 mg/kg/day. Hazard quotient (HQ) contributions to non-carcinogenic exposure risk (HI) were 99.93%, 0.02%, and 0.05% for children and 99.23%, 0.07%, and 0.70% for adults. The results suggest acceptable carcinogenic risk, with the highest carcinogenic risk (CR) observed for Cr, at 9.26E-05 for children and 4.67E-05 for adults. The positive matrix factorization (PMF) model identified five contamination sources: geogenic, solid waste leaching, industrial waste, surface runoff, and agricultural practices. This analysis provides insights into the ecosystem risks posed by these metals.