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Metal(loid)s in Bottom Sediments Ecological and Human Health Risk Assessment Cover

Metal(loid)s in Bottom Sediments Ecological and Human Health Risk Assessment

Architecture, Civil Engineering, Environment
Volume 18 (2025): Issue 1 (March 2025)
By: Malwina Tytła,  Alina Pohl and  Joanna Kernert  
Open Access
|May 2025

Figures & Tables

Figure 1.

Location of water reservoirs [33, 34]. Where A) Lake Gardno; B) Lake Swarzędzkie; C) Lake Szczutowskie; D) Wisła-Czarne dam Reservoir
Location of water reservoirs [33, 34]. Where A) Lake Gardno; B) Lake Swarzędzkie; C) Lake Szczutowskie; D) Wisła-Czarne dam Reservoir

Figure 2.

Metal(loid)s concentrations in bottom sediments
Metal(loid)s concentrations in bottom sediments

Results of carcinogenic risk assessment_

CARCINOGENIC RISK
Metal(loid)sAdultsChildren
CRingCRdermalTCRCRingCRdermalTCR
Lake Gardno
Cd8.95×10−83.57×10−108.99×10−81.57×10−74.39×10−101.57×10−7
Cr1.68×10−62.68×10−71.95×10−62.94×10−63.30×10−73.27×10−6
Ni3.97×10−63.96×10−74.37×10−66.95×10−64.87×10−77.44×10−6
Pb2.83×10−8nd2.83×10−84.96×10−8nd4.96×10−8
As2.66×10−67.77×10−73.44×10−64.65×10−69.54×10−75.61×10−6
Lake Swarzędzkie
Cd1.36×10−65.43×10−91.37×10−62.38×10−66.67×10−92.39×10−6
Cr2.14×10−63.42×10−72.48×10−63.75×10−64.20×10−74.17×10−6
Ni5.80×10−65.78×10−76.38×10−61.01×10−57.10×10−71.09×10−5
Pb7.96×10−8nd7.96×10−81.39×10−7nd1.39×10−7
As1.32×10−63.86×10−71.71×10−62.31×10−64.74×10−72.79×10−6
Lake Szczutowskie
Cd1.72×10−66.86×10−91.73×10−63.01×10−68.42×10−93.02×10−6
Cr2.79×10−64.45×10−73.23×10−64.88×10−65.46×10−75.42×10−6
Ni8.24×10−68.22×10−79.07×10−61.44×10−51.01×10−61.54×10−5
Pb1.47×10−7nd1.47×10−72.58×10−7nd2.58×10−7
As8.29×10−62.42×10−61.07×10−51.45×10−52.97×10−61.75×10−5
Wisła-Czarne Reservoir
Cd2.47×10−69.86×10−92.48×10−64.32×10−61.21×10−84.34×10−6
Cr5.90×10−69.42×10−76.84×10−61.03×10−51.16×10−61.15×10−5
Ni2.12×10−52.12×10−62.33×10−53.71×10−52.60×10−63.98×10−5
Pb6.56×10−8nd6.56×10−81.15×10−7nd1.15×10−7
As3.77×10−61.10×10−64.87×10−66.60×10−61.35×10−67.95×10−6

Average daily exposure doses of metals in bottom sediments

Metal(loid)sAdultsChildren
ADDingADDdermalADDsADDingADDdermalADDs
Lake Gardno
Cd1.47×10−85.86×10−111.47×10−82.57×10−87.19×10−112.58×10−8
Cr3.36×10−61.34×10−83.38×10−65.89×10−61.65×10−85.90×10−6
Cu6.48×10−62.59×10−86.51×10−65.67×10−51.59×10−75.69×10−5
Ni2.34×10−69.32×10−92.35×10−64.09×10−61.14×10−84.10×10−6
Pb3.33×10−61.33×10−83.35×10−65.84×10−61.63×10−85.85×10−6
Zn3.48×10−51.39×10−73.49×10−53.04×10−48.52×10−73.05×10−4
As1.77×10−62.12×10−71.99×10−63.10×10−62.61×10−73.36×10−6
Lake Swarzędzkie
Cd2.23×10−78.90×10−102.24×10−73.90×10−71.09×10−93.92×10−7
Cr4.29×10−61.71×10−84.30×10−67.50×10−62.10×10−87.52×10−6
Cu5.89×10−52.35×10−75.92×10−55.16×10−41.44×10−65.17×10−4
Ni3.41×10−61.36×10−83.42×10−65.97×10−61.67×10−85.99×10−6
Pb9.37×10−63.74×10−89.41×10−61.64×10−54.59×10−81.64×10−5
Zn1.27×10−45.06×10−71.27×10−41.11×10−33.11×10−61.11×10−3
As8.81×10−71.05×10−79.86×10−71.54×10−61.29×10−71.67×10−6
Lake Szczutowskie
Cd2.82×10−71.12×10−92.83×10−74.93×10−71.38×10−94.95×10−7
Cr5.57×10−62.22×10−85.59×10−69.75×10−62.73×10−89.78×10−6
Cu1.62×10−56.45×10−81.62×10−51.41×10−43.96×10−71.42×10−4
Ni4.85×10−61.93×10−84.87×10−68.49×10−62.38×10−88.51×10−6
Pb1.73×10−56.91×10−81.74×10−53.03×10−58.49×10−83.04×10−5
Zn9.77×10−53.90×10−79.81×10−58.55×10−42.39×10−68.58×10−4
As5.52×10−66.61×10−76.19×10−69.67×10−68.12×10−71.05×10−5
Wisła-Czarne Reservoir
Cd4.05×10−71.62×10−94.07×10−77.09×10−71.98×10−97.11×10−7
Cr1.18×10−54.71×10−81.18×10−52.07×10−55.78×10−82.07×10−5
Cu3.92×10−51.56×10−73.93×10−53.43×10−49.60×10−73.44×10−4
Ni1.25×10−54.98×10−81.25×10−52.19×10−56.12×10−82.19×10−5
Pb7.71×10−63.08×10−87.75×10−61.35×10−53.78×10−81.35×10−5
Zn2.70×10−41.08×10−62.71×10−42.36×10−36.61×10−62.37×10−3
As2.51×10−63.01×10−72.81×10−64.40×10−63.69×10−74.77×10−6

Methodology for estimation of average daily dose

CALCULATION OF AVERAGE DAILY DOSE FOR METAL(LOID)S VIA INGESTION AND DERMAL CONTACT (mg·kg−1·day−1)
Average daily dose for ingestion (ADDing) [14] ADDing=C×IRing×EF×EDBW×AT×CF {ADD_{ing}} = \frac{{C \times I{R_{ing}} \times EF \times ED}}{{BW \times AT}} \times CF
Average daily dose for dermal contact (ADDdermal) [14] ADDdermal=C×SA×AF×ABS×EF×EDBW×AT×CF {ADD_{dermal}} = \frac{{C \times SA \times AF \times ABS \times EF \times ED}}{{BW \times AT}} \times CF
C – element concentration in the sediment sample; IRing – ingestion rate; EF – exposure frequency; ED – exposure duration; AF – adherence factor; ABS – dermal absorption factor; SA – surface area; BW – body weight; AT – averaging time; CF – conversion factor
THE PARAMETERS APPLIED TO THE ESTIMATION OF ADDS
ParameterUnitParameter value Adults/ChildrenReferences
Cmg·kg−1-This study
IRingmg·day−1100 / 200[16]
EFday·year−1350
EDyear30 / 6
AF(soil)mg·cm−20.07 / 0.2
ABS-0.001
SAcm25700 / 2800
BWkg70 / 16[14]
ATdays70×365 / carcinogens ED×365 / non-carcinogens
CFkg·mg−110−6

Ecological risk indices

IndexFormulaScaleDescription
Geoaccumulation Index (Igeo) [12] Igeo=log2cn1.5Bn {I_{geo}} = lo{g_2}\left( {\frac{{{c_n}}}{{1.5{{\rm{B}}_n}}}} \right)

  • Cn – concentration of element in the sediment sample (mg·kg−1),

  • Bn – geochemical background value in the Earth’s crust (Cd=0.1; Cr=100; Cu=55; Ni= 20; Pb=15; Zn=70; As=1.8 mg·kg−1) [44]

Igeo ≤ 0Practically uncontaminated
0<Igeo ≤ 1Uncontaminated to moderately contam.
1<Igeo ≤ 2Moderately contaminated
2<Igeo ≤ 3Moderately to Heavily contam.
3<Igeo ≤ 4Heavily contaminated
4<Igeo ≤ 5Heavily to Extremely contaminated
Igeo >5Extremely contaminated
Potential Ecological Risk Factor (ER) [13] ER=Tfi⋅CF ER = T_f^i \cdot CF

  • T – toxic response factor of element (Cd=30; Cr=2; Cu, Ni, Pb=5; Zn=1; As=10);

  • CF – Contamination Factor; the ratio between the concentration of the element in sediment and the background value [13, 44]

ER≤40Low risk
40<ER≤80Moderate risk
80<ER≤160Considerable risk
160<ER≤320High risk
ER>320Very high risk
Risk Index (RI) [13]RI= ∑ERiRI<150Low risk
150<RI<300Moderate risk
300<RI<600Considerable risk
RI>600High risk

Results of the ecological risk assessment

Metal(loid)sLake GardnoLake SwarzędzkieLake SzczutowskieWisła-Czarne Reservoir
Igeo
Cd−2.61.31.72.2
Cr−4.7−4.4−4.0−2.9
Cu−4.1−0.9−2.8−1.5
Ni−2.9−2.4−1.9−0.5
Pb−2.0−0.50.4−0.8
Zn−2.0−0.2−0.60.9
As0.2−0.81.80.7
ER
Cd7.5114.0144.0207.0
Cr0.10.10.20.4
Cu0.43.91.12.6
Ni1.01.52.15.3
Pb1.95.39.84.4
Zn0.41.31.02.8
As16.88.352.323.8
RI
Metal(loid)s28.1134.5210.5246.3

Methodology for health risk assessment

NON-CARCINOGENIC RISK ASSESSMENT
Hazard Quotient (HQ) [14, 15] HQij=ADDijRfDij H{Q_{ij}} = \frac{{AD{D_{ij}}}}{{Rf{D_{ij}}}}
Hazard Index (HI) [14, 15]HI=∑HQij
RfD –reference dose of individual element If the HQ or HI value > 1 – non-carcinogenic risk is possible; if the HQ or HI value < 1 – non-carcinogenic risk is not possible [14, 15]
CARCINOGENIC RISK ASSESSMENT
Carcinogenic Risk (CR) [14, 15]CRij = ADDij × SF TCR = ∑CRij
Total Carcinogenic Risk (TCR) [14, 15]
SF – cancer slope factor If the CR or TCR values > 1×10−4 – the carcinogenic risk occurs; if the values are between 1×10−6 and 1×10−4 – the carcinogenic risk is acceptable; if the values are < 1×10−6 – the risk is not carcinogenic [14, 15]
THE RFD AND SF VALUES OF ELEMENTS
ElementRfDingRfDdermalSFingSFdermalReferences
mg·kg−1·day−1kg·day·mg−1
Cd--6.106.10[45,46,47]
Cr--5.00×10−120.0
Cu4.00×10−21.20×10−2--
Ni--1.7042.50
Pb--8.50×10−3nd
Zn3.00×10−16.00×10−2--
As--1.53.66

Results of non-carcinogenic risk assessment

NON-CARCINOGENIC RISK
MetalAdultsChildren
HQingHQdermalHIHQingHQdermalHI
Lake Gardno
Cu1.62×10−42.15×10−61.64×10−41.42×10−31.32×10−51.43×10−3
Zn1.16×10−42.31×10−61.18×10−41.01×10−31.42×10−51.03×10−3
Lake Swarzędzkie
Cu1.47×10−31.96×10−51.49×10−31.29×10−21.20×10−41.30×10−2
Zn4.23×10−48.43×10−64.31×10−43.70×10−35.18×10−53.75×10−3
Lake Szczutowskie
Cu4.04×10−45.37×10−64.09×10−43.54×10−33.30×10−53.57×10−3
Zn3.26×10−46.50×10−63.32×10−42.85×10−33.99×10−52.89×10−3
Wisła-Czarne Reservoir
Cu9.79×10−41.30×10−59.92×10−48.57×10−38.00×10−58.65×10−3
Zn9.00×10−41.79×10−59.18×10−47.87×10−31.10×10−47.98×10−3

Characteristics of water reservoirs [25, 31, 35,36,37]

DataLake GardnoLake SwarzędzkieLake SzczutowskieWisła-Czarne Reservoir
Type of reservoirpolygenetic (coastal)post-glacialglacialdam reservoir (built-in years 1967 – 1973)
Surface area (km2)24.70.940.910.40
Length - max (m)685029402110-
Width - max (m)4730560690-
Depth - max (m)2.67.24.4-
Volume (thousand m3)30950.5200016895060
Feeder watersŁupawa, Bagienica Brodna, and Grabownica RiversCybina River and Mielcuch stream5 drainage ditches; unnamed watercoursesBiała and Czarna Wisełka streams
Functionstourism and recreationtourism and recreationtourism and recreationwater supply, flood control, tourism, and recreation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/acee-2025-0014 | Journal eISSN: 2720-6947 | Journal ISSN: 1899-0142
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Language: English
Page range: 185 - 200
Submitted on: Jul 22, 2024
Accepted on: Jan 9, 2025
Published on: May 10, 2025
Published by: Silesian University of Technology
In partnership with: Paradigm Publishing Services
Publication frequency: 4 issues per year
Keywords:
Bottom sediments,
Water reservoirs,
Metal(loid)s,
Ecological Risk Assessment,
Health Risk Assessment
Related subjects:
Architecture and design,
Architecture,
Architects, buildings

© 2025 Malwina Tytła, Alina Pohl, Joanna Kernert, published by Silesian University of Technology
This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 License.

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