Pollution and health risk assessment of heavy metals in agricultural soil, atmospheric dust and major food crops in Kermanshah province, Iran.

A total of 167 samples of agricultural soil, atmospheric dust and food crops (wheat and maize) were collected, and four heavy metals, including Zn, Cu, Ni, and Cr, were analyzed for their concentrations, pollution levels and human health risks. The mean heavy metal contents in the agricultural soil and atmospheric dust were exceeds background values and lower than their IEQS (Iranian Environmental Quality Standard) with an exception of Ni. A pollution assessment by Geo-accumulation Index (I) showed that the pollution levels were in the order of Ni> Cu> Cr> Zn for agricultural soils and Ni> Cu> Zn> Cr for atmospheric dust.

Regional-scale fluxes of zinc, copper, and nickel into and out of the agricultural soils of the Kermanshah province in western Iran.

It is important to study the status and trend of soil contamination with trace elements to make sustainable management strategies for agricultural soils. This study was conducted in order to model zinc (Zn), copper (Cu), and nickel (Ni) accumulation rates in agricultural soils of Kermanshah province using input and output fluxes mass balance and to evaluate the associated uncertainties. The input and output fluxes of Zn, Cu, and Ni into (from) the agricultural soils of Kermanshah province via livestock manure, mineral fertilizers, municipal waste compost, pesticides, atmospheric deposition, and crop removal were assessed for the period 2000-2014.