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Heavy metals in groundwater and soil are toxic to humans. An accurate risk assessment of heavy metal contamination can aid in environmental security decision making. In this study, the improved ecological risk index (RI) is used to comprehensively investigate the influence of heavy metals in soil and groundwater within electroplating factories and their surrounding regions. In the non-overlapping area, the RI of soil and groundwater is computed individually, and in the overlapping area, the greater RI of soil and groundwater is employed. Two typical electroplating factories are used to examine the heavy metal distribution pattern. The heavy metal concentrations are compared between Factory A, which is in operation, and Factory B, which is no longer in operation, in order to analyze the heavy metal concentrations and associated ecological risks. Heavy metals continue to spread horizontally and vertically after Factory B was closed. Heavy metal concentrations in groundwater surrounding Factory B are substantially greater, and the maximum concentration exists deeper than in Factory A. Because Cr, Cu, and Hg in soil contribute significantly to the RI, the primary high RI region is observed at Factory A and the region to the southwest. The RI of Factory B demonstrates a broad, moderate risk zone in the west and southwest. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ubiquitous occurrences of phthalic acid esters (PAEs) or phthalates in a variety of consumer products have been demonstrated. Nevertheless, studies on their occurrence in various types of bottled drinks are limited. In this study, fifteen PAEs were analyzed in six categories of bottled drinks (n = 105) collected from the Chinese market, including mineral water, tea drinks, energy drinks, juice drinks, soft drinks, and beer. Among the 15 PAEs measured, DEHP was the most abundant phthalate with concentrations ranging from below the limit of quantification (LOQ) to 41,000 ng/L at a detection rate (DR) of 96%, followed by DIBP (DR: 88%) and DBP (DR: 84%) with respective concentration ranges of below LOQ to 16,000 and to 4900 ng/L. At least one PAE was detected in each drink sample, and the sum concentrations of 15 PAEs ranged from 770 to 48,004 ng/L (median: 6286 ng/L). Significant differences with respect to both PAE concentrations and composition profiles were observed between different types of bottled drinks. The median sum concentration of 15 PAEs in soft drinks was over five times higher than that detected in mineral water; different from other drink types. Besides DEHP, DBIP, and DBP, a high concentration of BMEP was also detected in a tea drink. The estimated daily dietary intake of phthalates (EDIdrink) through the consumption of bottled drinks was calculated based on the concentrations measured and the daily ingestion rates of bottled drink items. The EDIdrink values for DMP, DEP, DIBP, DBP, BMEP, DAP, BEEP, BBP, DCP, DHP, BMPP, BBEP, DEHP, DOP, and DNP through the consumption of bottled mineral water (based on mean concentrations) were 0.45, 0.33, 12.5, 3.67, 2.10, 0.06, 0.32, 0.16, 0.10, 0.09, 0.05, 0.81, 112, 0.13, and 0.20 ng/kg-bw/d, respectively, for Chinese adults. Overall, the EDIdrink values calculated for phthalates through the consumption of bottled drinks were below the oral reference doses suggested by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]