Human health risks of heavy metal(loid)s mediated through crop ingestion in a coal mining area in Eastern China

The heavy metal(loid)s (HMs) in soils can be accumulated by crops grown, which is accompanied by crop ingestion into the human body and then causes harm to human health. Hence, the health risks posed by HMs in three crops for different populations were assessed using Health risk assessment (HRA) model coupled with Monte Carlo simulation. Results revealed that Zn had the highest concentration among three crops; while Ni was the main polluting element in maize and soybean, and As in rice. Non-carcinogenic risk for all populations through rice ingestion was at an “unacceptable” level, and teenagers suffered higher risk than adults and children. All populations through ingestion of three crops might suffer Carcinogenic risk, with the similar order of Total carcinogenic risk (TCR): TCRAdults > TCRTeenagers > TCRChildren. As and Ni were identified as priority control HMs in this study area due to their high contribution rates to health risks. According to the HRA results, the human health risk was associated with crop varieties, HM species, and age groups. Our findings suggest that only limiting the Maximum allowable intake rate is not sufficient to prevent health risks caused by crop HMs, thus more risk precautions are needed.