Ecological risks of persistent organic pollutants in highly agriculturally intensive use in Al-Qassim Region, Saudi Arabia

Persistent organic pollutants (POPs) in agricultural soils pose significant environmental and human health risks. This study investigates the concentrations of POPs in agricultural soils from 30 locations in Buraydah, Saudi Arabia. The majority of the sampling sites exhibited undetectable pesticide levels, indicating low environmental risks. However, six locations showed varying degrees of pesticide contamination, with Cypermethrin (14.8–562.5 ppb) and Bifenthrin (25.2–156.1 ppb) being the most prominent pollutants. Location 16 exhibited the highest pesticide concentrations, while Location 20 posed the greatest potential health risk. A comprehensive carcinogenic risk assessment was conducted to evaluate cancer risks associated with ingestion, dermal contact, and inhalation exposure pathways. The total cancer risk (TCR) was computed as the sum of risks from all pathways, identifying specific locations requiring urgent remediation. Additionally, a non-carcinogenic risk assessment was performed using the Hazard Quotient (HQ) and Hazard Index (HI) to estimate cumulative risks from multiple substances. Although the overall POP levels were relatively low compared to global studies, the findings emphasize the need for continuous monitoring, sustainable agricultural practices, and stricter pesticide regulations to mitigate both carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic health risks.