Risk Assessment of Pb and Cd on Human Health in Surface Soil around Esfahan Steel Company and Mobarakeh Steel Complex

The gathering of industrial activities causes accumulation of heavy metals in soil that is dangerous for human health. Due to the effect of industrial regions on soil heavy metal pollution, this research was done to evaluate the risk assessment of Pb and Cd on human health in surface soil around Esfahan steel company and Mobarakeh steel complex. 208 samples from the surface soil around Esfahan steel company and Mobarakeh steel complex were collected and Cd and Pb concentration of samples were determined. Cancer and non-cancer risk of heavy metals sorption in surface soils through ingestion, inhalation and dermal pathways for children and adults were evaluated using the EPA method. The greatest non-cancer diseases dangerous from Cd sorption has belonged to the children (HI=8.9) and the non-cancer risk from Pb (HI= 16.73) was higher than Cd, while, the opposite trend was observed for Cd. The same results were found for cancer diseases. The results of this research showed that soil surface pollution to Pb and Cd around Esfahan steel company and Mobarakeh steel complex has an important role in cancer and non-cancer diseases.