Entropy and CRITIC-based human health risk assessment of trace metals in a dumpsite environment, northwestern Morocco

• The Safi dumpsite had high Cd, Cr, Co, Cu, and Zn levels in soil, plants, and snails. • Children faced the highest associated non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic risks. • The CRITIC and Entropy methods offer alternative weighting of exposure pathways. • The modified CHI and CCR were generally consistent with the USEPA method. • The results highlight the need for soil trace metal remediation in the dumpsite. This study aims to assess the human health risks associated with the contamination of soil, mallow leaves, and land snail ( Theba pisana and Otala spp.) soft tissues by trace metals (TMs) in the Safi dumpsite area, Morocco, using the United States Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA), the CRiteria Importance Through Intercriteria Correlation (CRITIC), and the Entropy-based weighting method. A total of 72 samples were collected, including soil (n=18), mallow leaf (n=18), and land snail (n=36) samples. The results revealed significantly high Cd, Cr, Co, Cu, and Zn contents in the soil, mallow leaves, and snail soft tissues, generally exceeding the limits set by international organizations (FAO/WHO). On the other hand, the US EPA method demonstrated non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic risks to children, with cumulative hazard index (CHI) and cumulative cancer risk (CCR) values of 1630 × 10 -2 and 632 × 10 -6 , respectively, primarily driven by mallow leaf ingestion. The CRITIC method assigned higher and lower weights to mallow leaf and soil ingestion, respectively, resulting in non-carcinogenic risks to children via these routes, as well as carcinogenic risks to all population groups (children and adults) from mallow leaf consumption. In contrast, the Entropy method assigned higher and lower weights to dermal contact with contaminated soil and ingestion of the mallow leaves, respectively. Hence, the Entropy-based modified risk indices revealed non-carcinogenic risks limited to children through dermal contact with soil and ingestion of the mallow leaves. The current study provides valuable insights into the development of data-driven weighting methods for investigating non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic risks associated with pollutants.