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Abstract
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In this study, the environmental and human health risks associated with heavy metals (HMs) in different land uses in a dust-prone area of the Jazmurian Basin, southeastern Iran, were investigated. The samples included 51 surface soil samples (0–10 cm) and 14 subsurface samples (50 cm) from agricultural lands (AL), rangelands (RL), barren lands (BL), and riverbeds (RB), collected during the summer season of 2024. The concentrations of arsenic (As), lead (Pb), nickel (Ni), chromium (Cr), manganese (Mn), cobalt (Co), copper (Cu), aluminum (Al), and iron (Fe) were measured using ICPOES. The enrichment factor (EF), Nemerow Integrated Pollution Index (NIPI), Improved Weighted Index (IWI), Hazard Index (HI), and Total Cancer Risk (TCR) were used to assess the ecological and health risks of HMs. Uncertainty and sensitivity analyses were performed using Monte Carlo simulation. Although all metals fell into the low enrichment class across all land uses, the highest mean EF values of As, Cr, Co, and Pb were observed in AL, while the highest mean EF values of Fe, Mn, and Cu were observed in RL. The highest pollution levels were recorded by the NIPI for AL (1.70) and in the IWI for RB (3.63). Both indices showed the lowest pollution levels in RL (NIPI = 0.92; IWI = 2.37). The NIPI indicated pollution levels ranging from low to warning, whereas the IWI indicated moderate to severe pollution levels in the study area. The highest HI values were observed for Pb in BL, with values of 1.74 × 10⁻3 for adults and 3.6 × 10⁻1 for children, indicating no significant non-carcinogenic risk. The highest CR values were obtained for As (5.26 × 10⁻⁷) in the RL, indicating a negligible carcinogenic risk in the study area. The TCR ranged from 4.75 × 10⁻⁷ in BL to 7.6 × 10⁻⁷ in RL, remaining below the acceptable risk threshold. The sensitivity analysis showed that Pb had the greatest impact on the non-carcinogenic risk, while As was the main contributor to carcinogenic risk. Finally, although the IWI indicated moderate to severe contamination in some land uses, the non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic health risks associated with HMs in the study area remained low. Therefore, continuous monitoring, especially for RB and AL, is recommended to prevent future spread and potential environmental and health impacts.
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