Potential health risk assessment for soil heavy metal contamination in the central zone of Belgrade (Serbia)

Abstract

An investigation of the soil quality in the centre of Belgrade was per- formed to define how seriously the soil is polluted. On the basis of the heavy metal content (Zn, Cd, Pb, Co, Ni, Cu, Cr and Mn), the potential health risk assessment calculated for a lifetime of exposure (ingestion and inhalation), based on the USEPA model, was determined as the cumulative carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic risk for children and adults. The study proved that soil contamination in Belgrade is not insignificant; risk assessment indicated that the carcinogenic risk is completely insignificant but the cumulative non-carcinogenic risk tends to became significant, mainly for children, since it approaches unacceptable values. There is no particularly dangerous single heavy metal, but their cumulative effect, expressed as Child Soil Ingestion Hazardous Index, is for concern.