Heavy metal contamination and health risk assessment in soil-rice system near Xinqiao mine in Tongling city,Anhui province,China

In this study, paddy soil and rice grain samples were collected from the vicinity around the Xinqiao mine in Tongling, China to test for the presence of heavy metals (Cd, Ni, Cr, Cu, Zn, and Pb) in soil-rice system. Results indicated that the soil samples were primarily contaminated with Cd and Cu and followed with Zn and Pb. In rice grains, Cd, Cu, and Cr concentrations exceeded recommended guidelines. However, the regional distribution of heavy metals in rice grains and soil was inconsistent. The bioaccumulation factor of heavy metals in rice grains decreased in the order of Cd > Zn > Cu > Ni > Cr > Pb. The BAF was significantly positively correlated with TCLP-extractable metals and significantly negatively correlated with soil pH. However, the relationship between soil organic matter and the BAF in rice grains was complex. Health risk assessment through rice intake showed that hazard quotients of Cu and Cd were greater than 1 and could pose a considerable non-cancer health risk to adults and children; meanwhile, Cr, Ni, and Cd could pose an unacceptable cancer risk. The results indicated that the government must take measures to reduce heavy metal contents in paddy soil and rice.     

Assessments of contamination and human health risks of heavy metals in the road dust from a mining county in Guangxi,China

A total of 32 road dust samples were collected from mining areas and a control area in Nandan County, Guangxi, in order to investigate the contamination characteristics of heavy metals and associated health risks to local residents. The results indicated that elevated concentrations of As, Cd, Cu, Pb, Sb, and Zn were found in road dust in mining areas compared with control areas and background values. Pearson's correlation analysis and principal component analysis indicated that As, Cd, Cu, Pb, Sb, and Zn in road dust mainly originated from anthropogenic sources (e.g., vehicles emission, mining activities, and smelting activities), whereas Cr, Co, and Ni were associated with natural sources (e.g., soil weathering). Furthermore, noncarcinogenic hazards to both adults and children were found in mining areas, while noncarcinogenic health risks in the control area were negligible. The health hazard was mostly ascribed to the ingestion, followed by the dermal contact, and the inhalation. The cancer risks from As, Cd, Co, Cr, and Ni in all studied areas were within safe levels as the R values were below the threshold of 1 × 10^?6.     

Heavy metal contamination and health risk assessment in drinking water of Sistan and Baluchistan,Southeastern Iran

Access to safe and clean drinking water is an essential element of healthy life also known as the primary human needs. The present study was conducted to investigate heavy metal (HM) concentrations of drinking water. Excess health risk of HM (Cr, Pb, and Cd) intake is related to the drinking water consumption in local population. HMs concentrations were analyzed by using graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometer and were compared with permissible limits regulated by country and World Health Organization (WHO). The hazard quotient (HQ) and Excess Lifetime Cancer Risk (ELCR) were determined to show the carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic effects of HMs, respectively. HQs were found in the order of Pb > Cd > Cr and subsequently HI index was also estimated for all HM in two age groups (children and adults). The comparisons indicate no possibility of non-carcinogenic effects to the local population. The values for ELCR were found in the order of Cr > Cd > Pb. The ELCR index was found above acceptable risk levels for chromium and cadmium in both children and adults groups. Furthermore, intermetal correlation results revealed that heavy metals have common sources resulting from geogenic and anthropogenic activities and these are major sources of water contamination in Sistan and Baluchestan province.     

Heavy metal contamination in vegetables grown around peri-urban and urban-industrial clusters in Ghaziabad,India

Heavy metal contamination of agricultural soils resulting from rapid industrialization and urbanization is of great concern because of potential health risk due to dietary intake of contaminated vegetables. The present study aims to evaluate the status of heavy metals contamination of agricultural soils and food crops around an urban-industrial region in India. Transfer factor values of Cu, Cr, Pb, Cd, Zn, and Ni from soil to vegetable was estimated. The mean heavy metal concentrations (mg/kg) in agricultural soils (Cu: 17.8, Cr: 27.3, Pb: 29.8, Cd: 0.43, Zn: 87, Mn: 306.6, Fe: 16984, and Ni: 53.8) were within allowable concentrations for Indian agricultural soil. The concentrations of Pb, Cd, Zn, and Ni in crops/vegetables exceeded the World Health Organization/Food and Agriculture Organization safe limits. Relative orders of transfer of metals from soil to edible parts of the crops/vegetables were Cd > Pb > Ni > Zn > Cu > Cr. The enrichment factors of heavy metals in soil indicated minor to moderately severe enrichment for Pb, Cd, and Ni; minor to moderate enrichment for Zn; no enrichment to minor enrichment for Mn; and no enrichment to moderate enrichment for Cu at different sites. Ecological risk index of soil showed considerable contamination in one of the wastewater irrigated sites.     

Environmental risks posed by heavy metal contamination from mine waste: Case study from northwest Iran

Mining activities produce waste tailings that can be a significant source of pollution in the surrounding ecosystem. This study was designed to estimate the magnitude of Fe, As, Pb, Cd, Mn, Ni, Zn, and Cr in soil impacted by activities in the Moeil iron ore mine area of northwestern Iran and initially assess the potential risk to nearby residents and ecological habitats. For this, concentrations of elements in 24 samples from 8 locations were analyzed by inductivity coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry. Concentrations of heavy metals reported for samples collected from the area ranged from 50,247–466,200 mg/kg for Fe, 40–10,827 mg/kg for As, 9–84 mg/kg for Pb, 0.2–58.4 mg/kg for Cd, 32–424 mg/kg for Mn, 4–32 mg/kg for Ni, 37–60 mg/kg for Zn, and 32–337 mg/kg for Cr. Reported levels of Fe and As in particular are indicative of severe contamination and imply a high risk to ecological receptors. Reported levels of arsenic also imply elevated cancer and non-cancer health risks to residents who work in or pass through the area. Reported levels of Cd and Cr in soil samples also indicate an elevated cancer risk posed by these metals. The result of this study indicates it is important to estimate potential contamination of soils and drinking water wills in the vicinity of Moeil village to arsenic and heavy metals.     

Heavy metals in urban and peri-urban soils of a heavily-populated and industrialized city: Assessment of ecological risks and human health repercussions

Abstract

Increasing levels of heavy metals in soil have become a serious concern for human health because they can be easily transferred into the human body through contaminated food web. It is imperative to evaluate pollution levels, origin and ecological risks of heavy metals. The geoaccumaualtion (Igeo), contamination factor (CF), pollution load index (PLI) and human health risk were estimated to determine the soil pollution in Faisalabad, a heavily-populated and industrialized city of Pakistan. The maximum CF (1.58) and PLI (1.22) values were estimated for Cd and Pb, respectively, and maximum Igeo (?0.19) value was observed for Cd. Correlation analysis and principal component analysis suggested that common industrial sources for Cd and Pb were identified in the study sites. It clearly indicates that the significant levels of heavy metals pollution arise from local industries, busy commercial centers and heavy traffic load in the last few decades in heavily-populated and industrialized city. Further, soil heavy metals concentration were used to evaluate the human health risk such as chronic or non-carcinogenic including hazard indexes HIexP (ingestion, inhalation and dermal and carcinogenic) and cancer risk (CR). The HIexP values of Pb (10.30) and Cd (4.56) were found above the permissible limit (HI = 1) for children. The CR due to carcinogenic metals (Co, Cr and Cd) are within the safe limit (1E-06 to 1E-04). However, CR was comparatively higher in adults as compared to children. The results from the current investigation can help to develop a sustainable strategy in the study region to minimize the entry of heavy metals in food chain through source identification and pollution abatement techniques.     

Comprehensive comparison of probabilistic health risks of soil heavy metals in China’s mining areas

Abstract

To assess the health risks caused by soil heavy metal in China’s mining areas, concentration data for eight heavy metals in 77 mines were collected from previous literature. Monte Carlo simulation was used to analyze the corresponding carcinogenic risks and noncarcinogenic risks, and sensitivity analysis was carried out for each parameter. The results showed that among the different types of mining areas, multi-metal mines have the highest risk of carcinogenesis, followed by tungsten and antimony mines. Their carcinogenic risk values are all greater than 10^?4, which is unacceptable. Pb is a heavy metal with highest noncarcinogenic risk. The log-transformed value is 3.2, which is much larger than the threshold of 0; Pb is followed by As and Hg. Therefore, Pb, As, and Hg are the heavy metals that should be controlled preferentially in polluted mining areas. Sensitivity analysis showed that the soil ingestion rate, exposure frequency, and pollutant concentration level are the factors that have the greatest impacts on health risks. More attention should be paid to these factors when addressing heavy metal pollution in mining areas. In addition, for the surveyed mines, children had a greater health risk than adults, so children should be given extra attention.     

沈阳某冶炼厂废弃厂区的人类健康风险评价

以沈阳某冶炼厂废弃厂区重金属污染监测为依据,采用美国环保局最新的人类健康风险评价标准方法对沈阳某冶炼厂废弃地块污染土壤进行了评价,并且假设未来该土地利用类型为工业用地(Ⅰ)或休闲用地(Ⅱ).评价结果显示:工业用地(Ⅰ)和休闲用地(Ⅱ)的累积非致癌风险指数分别为2.65×10-2和3.67×10-2;工业用地(Ⅰ)和休闲用地(Ⅱ)由呼吸摄入Cd造成的潜在致癌风险指数分别为4.48×10-9和7.30×10-10,不会对在该地区工作和休闲的人们造成身体健康上的伤害;无论是工业用地假设还是休闲用地假设,由无机铜造成的人类健康风险在整个风险中所占的比例最大;由美国环保局的人类健康风险评价方法反推得出的冶炼厂地块未来为工业用地的土壤修复目标值均小于我国工业企业土壤环境质量风险评价基准值.     

Pollution Assessment and Potential Sources of Heavy Metals in Agricultural Soils around Four Pb/Zn Mines of Shaoguan City,China

A total of 455 agricultural soil samples from four nonferrous mines/smelting sites in Shaoguan City, China, were investigated for concentrations of 10 heavy metals (As, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Hg, Mn, Ni, Pb, and Zn). The mean concentrations of the metals were 72.4, 5.16, 13.3, 54.8, 84.5, 1.52, 425, 28.2, 529, and 722 mg kg^?1, respectively. The values for As, Cd, Hg, Pb, and Zn were more than 8 and 1.5 times higher than their background values in this region and the limit values of Grade II soil quality standard in China, respectively. Estimated ecological risks based on contamination factors and potential ecological risk factors were also high or very high for As, Cd, Hg, and Pb. Multivariate analysis (Pearson's correlation analysis, hierarchical cluster analysis, and principal component analysis) strongly implied three distinct groups; i.e., As/Cu/Hg/Zn, Co/Cr/Mn/Ni, and Cd/Pb. Local anomalies for As, Cu, Hg, and Zn by a probably anthropogenic source (identified as mining activity), Co, Cr, Mn, and Ni by natural contribution, and a mixed source for Cd and Pb, were identified. This is one of the few studies with a focus on potential sources of heavy metals in agricultural topsoil around mining/smelting sites, providing evidence for establishing priorities in the reduction of ecological risks posed by heavy metals in Southern China and elsewhere.     

Source apportionment and health risk quantification for heavy metal sources in soils near aluminum-plastic manufacturing facilities in northeast China

Abstract

Identifying the source effect on heavy metals to human health risk is essential for devising and implementing restoration policies for polluted soils. For this purpose, eight heavy metals (As, Cd, Hg, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb, and Zn) in soil profile samples (0–10, 10–20, 20–30, and 30–40?cm) collected in the area around aluminum-plastic manufacturing facilities (APMF) were determined. An absolute principal component score multiple linear regression (APCS-MLR) model supported by a health risk assessment (HRA) model was developed to determine the source apportionment of soil heavy metals and contribution rate of pollution sources to human health risk. Results showed significant accumulations of eight metals in the topsoil (0–20?cm), parent material, transportation, APMF, and agricultural practices were the four major contributing sources for heavy metals in soils, with average contribution percentages of 21.69%, 24.99%, 29.60%, and 14.25%, respectively. Carcinogenic risk factors for adults (1.23E-04) and children (1.32E-04) were found to be above the acceptable level (1E-06 to 1E-04). The health risk quantification results indicated that parent material, APMF, transportation, agricultural practices, and unidentified factors accounted for 55.76%, 14.48%, 12.09%, 10.13%, and 7.54% of the carcinogenic risk for children and adults. The adverse impacts of Cd, Zn, and Pb accumulations in soil coming from APMF activities were significant and need to receive more attention.     

Investigations of the chemical distribution of heavy metals in street dust and its impact on risk assessment for human health,case study of Radom (Poland)

Abstract

This work investigated the ecological and health hazards caused by heavy metals present in urban street dust of Radom (Poland). The objectives of this study were to improve the estimation of exposure doses of toxic metals based on their distribution patterns in street dusts and to assess the noncarcinogenic health risk for the residents. Zinc (Zn), manganese (Mn), and lead (Pb) were mainly associated with the reducible fraction, copper (Cu) with the oxidizable fraction, and iron (Fe), nickel (Ni), and chromium (Cr) with the residual fraction. The contents of short-term and long-term labile fractions of the metals were used to assess a direct health risk, a potential health risk and an overall human health risk. The level of the overall risk quantified by the cumulative total labile fraction-HI (tlf-HI^c ): 3.91E-01 (children) and 3.85E-02 (adults) was lower than the safety limit of unity. The metal that contributed the most to the overall health risk was Pb: 34% (children) and 31% (adults), while Zn and Ni had the least contribution (3% and 2% for both children and adults). It was shown that the risk assessment based on the pseudo-total content of metals can overestimate the health risk by nearly two times when compared to the assessments based on the total content of labile fractions.     

Distribution and Risk Assessment of Heavy Metals in the Xinzhuangzi Reclamation Soil from the Huainan Coal Mining Area,China

The contamination of coal-mine soil by heavy metals is a widespread problem. This study analyzes the heavy metals (Cu, Zn, Ni, Pb, Cr, Cd, and Hg) found in 33 surface soil samples from Xinzhuangzi, China restored coal-mining land used as cultivated land. The results show that the selected elements were cumulative, especially for Cd. An index of geo-accumulation indicates that the soil was practically uncontaminated by Cu, Zn, Ni, and Hg, uncontaminated to moderately contaminated by Pb and Cr, and moderately to heavily contaminated by Cd. Based on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's ecological soil screening levels (Eco-SSLs) for Cu, Zn, Ni, Pb, and Cd and the Dutch Target and Intervention Values for Cr and Hg, the plants and soil invertebrates were not likely greatly influenced by the selected metals. Although the Cd concentration was found to have no significant effect on plants and soil invertebrates, it is the only metal with a concentration significantly above that required by Chinese standards (HJ/T 332–2006) for edible agricultural products, indicating that Cd is the predominant factor that determines the use of the reclaimed coal-mining area for farmland. Thus, employing the reclaimed land as farmland may not be a good option.     

Heavy metal contamination in water,soil, and milk of the industrial area adjacent to Swan River,Islamabad, Pakistan

Trace heavy metals such as Cr(III), Ni(II), Cd(II), Zn(II), Pb(II), and Cu(II) are hazardous pollutants and are rich in areas with high anthropogenic activities. Their concentrations were analyzed using atomic absorption spectroscopy, and it was found that their concentrations were several fold higher in downstream Swan River water samples of the Kahuta Industrial Triangle as compared to upstream. Heavy metal soil concentrations taken from the downstream site were 149% for Cr, 131% for Ni, 176% for Cd, 139% for Zn, 224% for Pb, and 182% for Cu when compared to samples from the upstream site. Quantitative analysis concluded that these metals were higher in milk samples collected from downstream as compared to the samples from upstream water-irrigated sites. The order of metal in milk was as Zn > Cr > Cu > Cd > Pb = Ni. Heavy metal contaminations may affect the drinking water quality, food chain, and ecological environment. It was also suggested that the toxicity due to such polluted water, soil, and milk are seriously dangerous to human health in future.     

The accumulation characteristics and potential health risks of heavy metals in vegetables from reclaimed area of China

The reclamation of subsidence area was regarded as a useful pathway to rebuild landscape and ecosystem. However, the elevated concentrations of heavy metals in the reclaimed area may lead to potential environmental and health risks. This study was aimed at investigating the accumulation of heavy metals in the soils and vegetables, and evaluate the potential health risks to human beings via consuming these vegetables. The concentrations of heavy metals (Cd, Cu, Pb, and Zn) were measured by using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. The elevated concentrations of heavy metals were found in the soil from the reclaimed area when compared with the background value. The concentrations of heavy metals were various among the different vegetable species. The heavy metal tolerance could be found in all the selected vegetables. The elevated concentrations of Cu, Pb, and Zn in the edible part of the selected vegetables indicated that the consumption of these vegetables may lead to potential health risk. The intake of soybean, radish, sweet potato, and mugwort may lead to potential health risks due to the elevated target health quotients. Chinese cabbage and pepper were regarded as the suitable vegetables which may help in reducing the potential health risk.     

华南地区典型燃煤电厂周边土壤重金属分布、风险评估及来源分析

为了解华南地区典型燃煤电厂周边表层土壤重金属空间分布特征,对韶关市燃煤电厂周边20处农田表层土壤中7种重金属(镍(Ni)、铜(Cu)、锌(Zn)、镉(Cd)、铅(Pb)、铬(Cr)及砷(As))的总量进行检测,并分析了其相应的空间分布规律,同时评估了周边土壤重金属的生态风险并分析其来源。结果表明:该燃煤电厂周边土壤中重金属Ni、Cu、Zn、Cd、Pb、Cr及As的平均含量分别是17.79、19.59、159.08、3.14、111.01、96.61 mg/kg和21.48 mg/kg,Cd、Pb污染情况突出,重金属Zn、Cd、Pb、Cr的分布与盛行风向密切相关。综合污染指数法表明,Cd、Pb及Zn处于重污染状态;潜在生态风险指数法表明,Cd处于严重潜在生态风险状态;地累积指数法表明,Ni、Cu整体处于无污染状态,Cd整体处于高污染状态。多种统计方法表明,Zn、Cd、Pb及Cr受燃煤电厂影响明显,Cu、As的来源不仅受燃煤电厂等工业的影响,还与该地区农业灌溉用水密切相关,Ni的分布最为均匀,受自然因素影响明显。     

Dietary Intakes and Health Risk of Toxic and Essential Heavy Metals through the Food Chain in Agricultural,Industrial, and Coal Mining Areas of Northern India

Minerals can enter the food chain through industrial and mining activities. Soil-to-vegetable transfer is higher than soil-to-cereal, but human consumption of metals is attributable to balanced diets containing both vegetables and cereals and drinking water. However, the impact of location on intakes of metals from predominantly cereal-based Indian diets is not clear. Hence, the present study was undertaken in selected Agricultural, Industrial, and Coal Mining Areas (AA, IA, CMA) around the Allahabad District in Northern India to compare transfer of toxic metals, Pb, Cd, Cr and essential metals, Fe, Zn, Cu, Co in soil and water to common crops: cereals (rice, wheat, maize) and vegetables (spinach, potato), and to assess Daily Intake of Metal (DIM) and consequent Health Risk Index (HRI). The overall content of all metals, except Cu, in water, soils, and crops followed the pattern CMA > IA > AA. Transfer factors (TFs) followed the sequence spinach > potato > cereals. Quantitatively, however, cereals contribute maximally to a balanced diet, so DIM and HRI were higher from cereals than vegetables. Even though spinach had the highest TFs, cereals contributed maximally to HRI. CMA had the highest metal content so locally grown cereals contributed significantly to intake of both toxic and essential metals.     

Chemical speciation and health risks of airborne heavy metals around an industrial community in Nigeria

Abstract

Quantification of PM_2.5 (particulate matter <2.5?µm) bound heavy metals and their potential health risks were carried out around a cement manufacturing company in Ewekoro, Nigeria. The PM_2.5 samples were collected using Environtech gravimetric sampler. A four-staged sequential extraction procedure was used to fractionate PM_2.5 bound chromium (Cr), lead (Pb), aluminum (Al), copper (Cu), and silver (Ag), and further analyzed using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. Chemical speciation results reveal bioavailable levels of Pb (4.05?µg/m³), Cr (10.75?µg/m³), Al (16.47?µg/m³), Cu (4.38E-01?µg/m³), and Ag (1.22E-02?µg/m³) in the airborne particulates. Pb and Cr levels exceeded the World Health Organization allowable limit of 0.5 and 2.5E-05?µg/m³, respectively. The labile phases showed strong indication of the presence of Cr and Cu metal. Excess cancer risks exposure for adults, outdoor workers and children were higher than the acceptable risk target level of 1E-06. Non-carcinogenic health risk estimated using hazard quotients (HQs) and hazard indices (HIs) showed ingestion route within the safe level of HI <1 implying no adverse effect while inhalation route exceeded the safe level for all receptors. Enforcement of pollution control by authorized agencies, and screening of greenbelts as sinks for air pollutants is strongly recommended.     

Contamination level and human health hazard assessment of heavy metals and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in street dust deposited in Mahshahr,southwest of Iran

Mahshahr has a strategic position and is considered as industrial hub of Iran. Selected heavy metals and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) contamination and health risk, and the mineralogical composition of street dust from Mahshahr were investigated. Results indicated that geology is the main determinant of the dust mineralogical composition. Calculated enrichment factor (EF) and principal component analysis (PCA) showed that Pb, Hg, Zn, and Cu accumulations are greatly influenced by anthropogenic sources including traffic and industry. High heavy metals content poses great ecological risk in the study area and exposure doses revealed that ingestion is the main exposure route to street dust, especially for children in residential/commercial areas. It was found that the total amount of PAHs (∑PAHs) varies from 161 to 1996 µg/kg, dominated by four-ring PAHs. Diagnostic ratios and PCA showed that both petrogenic and pyrogenic sources of PAHs in Mahshahr street dust and traffic play important roles in this respect. Furthermore, toxic equivalents and incremental lifetime cancer risk of PAHs in street dust indicated a high potential carcinogenic risk for inhabitants mainly via dermal contact and ingestion pathways particularly for outdoor workers in industrial use scenario. Finally, distribution maps of total hazard index of heavy metals and cancer risk of PAHs indicated the most impacted zones for different groups and use scenarios.     

Heavy metal contamination of soil and tree-ring in urban forest around highway in Shanghai,China

The heavy metal (HM) pollution of forest soil has been known as one of the most challenging pollution issues due to their characteristics. In order to know the HM pollution condition in urban forest, identify the possible source of HM, 102 sub-samples of soil in 34 sites and 39 tree rings sub-samples in 7 sites were collected in the outer-ring greenbelt (ORG) in Shanghai, China. Concentrations of Cu, Zn, Pb, and Cd in soil and tree rings were analyzed, and the soil properties pH, total nitrogen, total phosphorous, and organic matter were analyzed too. Geo-accumulation index and potential ecological risk index were used for assessing the contamination level of HMs. Nonparametric tests, one-way analysis of variance, correlation analysis, and principal component analysis were applied. The results showed that: (1) concentrations of Cu, Zn, and Cd in soil were significantly higher than their corresponding background values of Shanghai (BVs); concentrations of Cu, Zn, and Pb in tree rings increased gradually in the past 10 years; (2) Zn and Cd were in unpolluted to moderately polluted level, Cd has moderate degree potential ecological risk; (3) vehicle exhausts and abrasion of vehicle parts of tires and historical agricultural activities were the main sources of HM contamination; (4) Cinnamomum camphora (L.) Presl. has the potential to reconstruct the change of Cu, Zn, and Pb as a bioindicator. In conclusion, Cd should be considered as a priority control component. The relationship between plant and soil should take further focus and more studies of the behavior of HMs in soil and plants are required.     

Indoor and outdoor levels,sources, and health risk assessment of mercury in dusts from a coal-industry city of China

To understand the mercury (Hg) pollution characteristics and health risks in indoor and outdoor dust of Huainan residential areas, 122 dust samples were collected indoors and outdoors. Average Hg contents in indoor and outdoor dusts of Huainan city were 0.321 ± 0.724 (n = 61) and 0.072 ± 0.163 (n = 61) mg/kg respectively. The average Hg content in indoor dust was characterized by PJ (Panji district) > XJJ (Xiejiaji district) > DT (Datong district) > TJA (Tianjiaan district), and in the order of PJ > DT > XJJ >TJA in outdoor dust. According to enrichment factor and geo-accumulation index, the enrichment degree and pollution intensity for Hg are ranked as “very high enrichment” and “heavily polluted” in indoor dust, and “significant enrichment” and “moderately polluted” in outdoor dust Hg concentrations in indoor dust were highly significantly associated with the coal combustion and frequency of open windows, and Hg concentrations in outdoor dust were significantly associated with the coal combustion and traffic density. The inhalation of Hg vapor is the main route of Hg exposure to adult and children. The hazard risks of Hg for different exposure ways in indoor and outdoor dust were more risk for children than for adults, but have no obvious health risk for them.