The Importance of Land Use Definition in Human Health Risk Assessment Related to Lead in Soils

In many countries, soil contamination and lead exposure is a persistent human and environmental health issue, while in others, it is an emerging concern. Defining the extent of lead contamination and assessing human health risk allow for efficient prevention agendas. The different types of land uses delimit the exposure frequency and hence can influence the evaluation of possible threats. In this study, human health risk assessment is performed under different land use scenarios, after determining the concentration of lead in topsoil of a rehabilitated space. An analytical hybrid method was used to determine the concentrations of the heavy metal. Human health risk indicators, hazard quotient and cancer risk, were subsequently calculated and compared under such scenarios of varying population exposure by land use. Results indicate that an increasing exposure can set health risk indicators above the tolerable levels. Correctly defining the exposure frequency by land use is very important to determine the actual risk levels of a site. Local regulators should take this information into account before designing prevention plans, especially in localities where migration and urbanization are major development factors and since the land use of a public place could change over time and alter the exposure frequency to soil.