Contamination Evaluation, Health and Ecological risk index assessment of Potential Toxic Elements in the surface soils Case Study: Central Part of Bandar Abbas County

Soils from the industrial areas in the south of Bandar Abbas County are susceptible to contamination by the export terminal, metal and non-metallic industries. In this research, the concentrations of selected potentially toxic elements in order to determine the contamination level, source and assessment of ecological risk index, also health risk assessment to determine the quantity of potential carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic risks of the elements in the soil of this area was investigated So that a total of 66 soil samples were collected. The Enrichment Factor (EF) and Ecological Risk Index were calculated to measure the contamination level. Principle component analysis (PCA) was used to determine the sources of heavy metals pollution, and also the health risk assessment was used in three ways: ingestion, inhalation and dermal contact. Results indicated that the average of EF for studied elements decreased in the order of Cu, Cd, Pb, Zn, As, Ni and Cr. The mean value of the ecological risk of Cu and Cd indicates medium and high ecological risk, respectively. The Hazard index for all selected elements through ingestion, inhalation and dermal contact in children is higher than that of adults. The results of EF and PCA indicate that the As, Cd, Cu, Pb and Zn have been affected by anthropogenic sources. As, Cr and Cd were regarded as the priority pollutants and Cancer risks in soils were within tolerable risk to human health.