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Health risk assessment of hexachlorocyclohexane in soil, water and plants in the agricultural area of Potohar region, Punjab, Pakistan

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Abstract

In this study analysis of soil, water and plant residue samples is presented to evaluate the contamination levels and possible health risks. Hexachlorocyclohexane (HCH) is a persistent organic pollutant used as a pesticide in agricultural sector for pest control in order to obtain higher productivity. For analysis soil, water and crop residue samples were collected from different agricultural areas of the northern Punjab region of Pakistan. The investigation of the samples shows significant levels of HCH residues in all types of samples. Gas chromatography–mass spectrometry analysis was used to assess the higher residue levels of HCH in the samples. The concentration of HCH residues detected in samples ranged from 2.43 to 8.88 µg/g in soil, nd –5.87 µg/l in water and nd – 4.87 µg/g in plants. The presence of HCH residues in soil, water and plant samples was beyond the recommended quality guidelines. Human health risk was evaluated for cancer and non-cancer risks through dietary and non-dietary exposure routes. The hazard index was HI > 1 in children and HI < 1 in adults, while the non-dietary incremental lifetime cancer risks (ILCR) were beyond the internationally acceptable limit of 1 × 10–5. Hence, results of the present investigation concluded the presence of high levels of HCH residues in samples and pose high health risk to the inhabitants. These findings are alarming and apprise the concerned departments for the remediation of contamination and proper implementation of environmental laws in the area.

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Acknowledgements

Authors wish to thank the Higher Education Commission (HEC) of Pakistan for providing the financial assistance that enabled this research work to be completed.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Environmental Science, International Islamic University, Islamabad, 44000, Pakistan

    Talat Ara, Rukhsanda Aziz & Uzma Afridi

  2. Center for Interdisciplinary Research in Basic Sciences, International Islamic University, Islamabad, 44000, Pakistan

    Waqar-Un Nisa & Muhammad Tariq Rafiq

  3. Department of Environmental Sciences, COMSATS University Islamabad, Abbottabad Campus, Abbottabad, Pakistan

    Malik Tahir Hayat

  4. Oil Crops Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Wuhan, 430062, China

    Rafaqat Ali Gill

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The original online version of this article was revised: In the affiliation of the authors “Waqar- Un Nisa and Muhammad Tariq Rafiq” the word “Islamic” was missed in the university name. The correct affiliation is “Center for Interdisciplinary Research in Basic Sciences, International Islamic University, Islamabad 44000, Pakistan”.

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Ara, T., Nisa, WU., Aziz, R. et al. Health risk assessment of hexachlorocyclohexane in soil, water and plants in the agricultural area of Potohar region, Punjab, Pakistan. Environ Geochem Health 43, 1–17 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10653-021-00847-9

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