Health Risk for Non-Dietary Children’s Exposure to Heavy Metals in Postindustrial Areas in Upper Silesia, Poland

Heavy metal exposure is a significant public health problem, especially among children, who are a particularly vulnerable group. This study investigates the non-dietary exposure of children to lead, cadmium, and zinc and the associated health risk in three selected locations near the former non-ferrous metal smelters. Soil samples were collected from schools, parks, playgrounds, and other recreational places where children spend their free time in three districts of such towns as Katowice, Świętochłowice, and Piekary Śląskie. The contents of Cd, Pb, and Zn in the surface soil samples had the following ranges: 4.09-20.94 mg Cd/kg d.m., 161.70-1027.68 mg Pb/kg d.m., and 577.76-1475.93 mg Zn/kg d.m., respectively. The threshold doses of Cd, Zn, and Pb are 0.001 mg × kg^-1 × day^-1, 0.3 mg × kg^-1 × day^-1, and 0.0035 mg × kg^-1 × day^-1. A significant health risk was estimated as a result of non-dietary exposure of children to lead. The greatest non-cancer health risk in the population of children <6 years of age and in younger school children (<12 years of age) was shown. The problem was especially concerning in the scenario that assumed ingestion of soil particles in the areas most heavily contaminated with lead in the Katowice-Szopienice district. The public health policy should aim to monitor the current exposure of the local population to Pb and educate them on effective prophylactic methods to minimize environmental health risks.