Spatial distribution and health risk assessment of airborne and soil-bound lead in an industrial zone

Abstract Contamination of air and soil with Lead (Pb) is a great global concern. This cross-sectional study aimed to investigate the Pb content in the atmosphere and soil at 56 sampling sites in the Salafchegan industrial zone located in Qom province, Iran. The results indicated that Pb accumulated in air and soil media. The geostatistical analysis of Pb showed that pollution hotspots were detected around industrial areas as well as in sites with intense vehicular traffic. Although the average concentration of Pb in the air (0.013 µg/m3) and soil (3.05 mg/kg), were lower than the limit of Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), in some polluted zones, the Pb concentrations exceeded more than 1.2 and 2.6 times in the air and soil, respectively. Ingestion and inhalation were the main pathways of Pb exposure. Hazard Index (HI) values in some land use areas and children under five years were above EPA's safe limit. HI value for children was above 1. The carcinogenic risk analysis showed that higher carcinogenic risk from the acceptable limit (1 × 10− 6) was presented in different age groups in the sampling sites. Consequently, children are considered a high-risk group for Pb exposure in studied areas.