ASSESSMENT OF THE SOIL CONTAMINATION EXTENT IN THE AREA OF ZEMPLÍN REGION (SLOVAKIA) AND THE CONSEQUENT HEALTH RISK FOR THE INHABITANTS

Abstract

In Slovakia, there are several regions with moderately disturbed environments. For example, in eastern Slovakia, it is the Zemplín region. The contents of risk elements were determined using AAS methods to evaluate the degree of soil contamination in five locations of Zemplín. Risk element indices were calculated based on Zn, Ni, Cd, and Pb concentrations.

Contamination factor (CF), Degree of contamination (C_deg), and Modified degree of contamination (mC_deg) were affected by a high concentration of Cd in its pseudototal form (CF 4.01–9.80, C_deg 8.42–17.1, mC_deg 2.11–4.28), which means a medium to high degree of contamination.

Other evaluated indexes were the Geoaccumulation index (I_geo), Ecological risk factor (E_r), Potential ecological risk index (PERI), and Pollution load index (PLI). In this case, the high concentration of Cd affected the increased values of the individual coefficients. According to I_geo (Cd), the soils of all locations are moderately to heavily contaminated. The highest values of PERI (323), and PLI (3.18), were determined in Belá n/Cirochou.

We assessed the consumption of potatoes grown in these locations based on the concentration of Zn, Ni, Cd, and Pb, as well as indices of risk elements in plants: Estimated daily intake (EDI), Target hazard quotient (THQ), and Hazard index (HI). Compared to the Tolerable daily intake (TDI), the EDI is higher only for Cd (Kamenná Poruba). THQ was lower than Toxical data and HI<1 for all risk elements and localities. Therefore, it is unlikely that the exposed population would experience obvious adverse health effects.