{"title":"Taguchi method optimization for efficient recovery of heavy metals from mining solid waste.","authors":"Loughlaimi Intissar, Bakher Zineelabidine, Zouhri Abdeljalil","doi":"10.1007/s10653-025-02557-y","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s10653-025-02557-y","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Environmental contamination by heavy metals poses a significant challenge, particularly in regions affected by mining activities. This study focuses on the optimization of leaching conditions for the recovery of iron (Fe), aluminum (Al), magnesium (Mg), and cadmium (Cd) from mining solid waste using nitric acid. Utilizing the Taguchi method (L18 experimental design), a robust statistical approach, a series of experiments were designed to systematically vary key process parameters, including acid concentration, temperature, and leaching time, to identify the optimal conditions for maximum metal recovery. The experimental design considered three levels of acid concentration (2%, 5%, and 10%), stirring time (15, 30, and 60 min), and two levels of temperature (24 °C and 50 °C). The results indicated that the most effective leaching of Mg occurred at a concentration of 10%, a leaching time of 30 min, and a temperature of 50 °C. For Al, increasing nitric acid concentrations improved the leaching efficiency, with an optimum leaching time of 30 min and lower temperatures being favorable. Cd leaching was more efficient at higher concentrations and higher temperatures, with 30 min leaching time. Fe leaching showed improved performance with an increasing concentration, peaking after 45 min of leaching and favoring lower temperatures.</p>","PeriodicalId":11759,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Geochemistry and Health","volume":"47 7","pages":"246"},"PeriodicalIF":3.2,"publicationDate":"2025-06-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144208029","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Effect of coal mining subsidence on soil microbial communities in mining areas with high groundwater levels.","authors":"Ruiping Xu, Junying Li, Xinju Li, Wen Song","doi":"10.1007/s10653-025-02554-1","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s10653-025-02554-1","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>In high groundwater level mining areas, coal mining has led to severe surface subsidence, which not only alters soil physicochemical properties but also destabilizes microbial communities, ultimately impairing ecosystem functions. This study explores the impact of mining-induced subsidence on soil microbial communities in regions with high groundwater and aims to uncover the mechanisms driving these shifts. We collected surface, middle, and deep soil samples from the subsidence areas of both the deep (T1) and shallow (T2) coal seams of the No. 3 Coal Mine in Jining, Shandong province, along with their respective control areas (W1 and W2). The physicochemical properties and microbial community composition of these samples were analyzed. The results indicated that coal mining subsidence significantly alters soil properties and reshaped microbial community structures. Compared to non-subsidence areas, soil nutrient content in subsidence areas decreased by 7.96-43.95%, while soil pH (pH) decreased by 6.33%. In contrast, soil water content (SWC) and bulk density (BD) increased by approximately 12.63 and 6.04%, respectively. Concurrently, microbial community richness and diversity declined by 16.41 and 6.65%, respectively. Despite this decline, the relative abundance of certain microbial taxa, including Actinobacteria, Chloroflexi, and Myxococcota, was higher in subsidence areas. Structural equation modeling further revealed that coal mining subsidence, in conjunction with soil physicochemical properties, accounted for 51-72% of the observed variation in microbial communities. Among the measured factors, soil available potassium (AK) had a significant direct influence on microbial communities, whereas SWC emerged as the most influential indirect factor. These findings provide critical insights into the ecological consequences of coal mining subsidence in high groundwater level areas and offer valuable guidance for land reclamation and soil ecological restoration efforts.</p>","PeriodicalId":11759,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Geochemistry and Health","volume":"47 7","pages":"245"},"PeriodicalIF":3.2,"publicationDate":"2025-06-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144208017","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
B Balakrishna Prasanna, G R Senthil Kumar, T Subramani, Ramamohana Reddy Bellum
{"title":"Utilization of charnockite rock as manufactured-aggregate for construction industry: a case study from Thiruvakkarai quarry and M-sand plant in Tamil Nadu, India.","authors":"B Balakrishna Prasanna, G R Senthil Kumar, T Subramani, Ramamohana Reddy Bellum","doi":"10.1007/s10653-025-02545-2","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s10653-025-02545-2","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Environmental concerns and the depletion of natural sand resources demand sustainable alternatives for construction materials. This study evaluates the feasibility of charnockite rock as a source for manufactured sand and coarse aggregates for use in concrete and mortar. Rock aggregate and manufactured sand samples from the Thiruvakkarai region, Tamil Nadu, India, were analyzed for geological, petrographic, physical, chemical and mechanical properties. Charnockite exhibited high specific gravity, low water absorption and optimal density making it ideal for concrete production. Petrographic analysis revealed a mineral composition rich in quartz, feldspar and pyroxene, enhancing strength, durability and environmental resistance. Chemical analysis confirmed high silica content (58.05%) with minimal deleterious substances, ensuring compatibility with cementitious systems. The aggregates used in this study comply with the provisions of IS 383:2016. The key mechanical properties include an aggregate impact value of 8.9%, a Los Angeles Abrasion value of 36.3%, and an aggregate crushing value of 22.1%. These values indicate that the aggregates meet the required limits for concrete applications, ensuring adequate strength and durability. The results confirm the suitability of the selected aggregates for use in concrete, aligning with the prescribed standards. Manufactured sand from charnockite surpassed conventional river sand in 28-day compressive strength, establishing it as a superior alternative. Its use reduces dependence on river sand, mitigating environmental degradation, reduces carbon footprint and promoting eco-friendly construction. This research provides a comprehensive foundation for utilizing charnockite-based aggregates in infrastructure projects and promotes sustainable development in the construction industry.</p>","PeriodicalId":11759,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Geochemistry and Health","volume":"47 7","pages":"243"},"PeriodicalIF":3.2,"publicationDate":"2025-06-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144198516","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Trace metal accumulation in oceanic tuna species and its implication on human health.","authors":"Mariasingarayan Yosuva, Danaraj Jeyapragash, Vajravelu Manigandan, Kannan Gunasekaran, Kandasamy Priyanka, Deivasigamani Selvam, Ayyappan Saravanakumar","doi":"10.1007/s10653-025-02541-6","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s10653-025-02541-6","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The present study investigates the concentrations of 14 trace and heavy metals (Ag, Al, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb, Zn, Hg, As, and Se) in two oceanic tuna species (Thunnus albacares and Katsuwonus pelamis) collected from the Tharuvaikulam fish landing centre along the Tuticorin coast, Southeast India, to evaluate potential health risks associated with their consumption. The analysis focused on the muscle, liver, gill, and skin tissues which were investigated using ICP-MS to assess the potential health risks associated with their metal accumulation. The concentration patterns of trace metals in the organs of T. albacares were found to be Se > Al > Fe > Zn > Cr > Cu > Mn > Ni > Pb > As > Hg > Cd > Co in muscle, skin, gill, and liver. In K. pelamis, a similar pattern was observed in skin, gill, and liver in the order of Se > Al > Zn > Fe > Cr > Cu > Mn > Ni > Pb > As > Hg > Cd > Co. Selenium (Se) had the highest Estimated Daily Intake (EDI) value in both Thunnus albacares (0.325 mg/kg bw/day) and Katsuwonus pelamis (0.036 mg/kg bw/day), both of which exceeded the Provisional Tolerable Weekly Intake (PTWI) set by the Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives. Target Hazard Quotient (THQ) values for all toxic metals in tuna from the Tharuvaikulam region were below 1 for both children and adults, indicating no significant health risks and aligning with previous findings on tuna fish species. Nevertheless, ongoing monitoring of trace metal levels in seafood from this region is recommended to ensure continued consumer safety.</p>","PeriodicalId":11759,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Geochemistry and Health","volume":"47 7","pages":"242"},"PeriodicalIF":3.2,"publicationDate":"2025-06-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144198515","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Sijing Sun, Junlei Wang, Liyuan Mu, Naiming Zhang, Li Bao
{"title":"Risk assessment of heavy metals in typical karst soils and analysis of potential influencing factors.","authors":"Sijing Sun, Junlei Wang, Liyuan Mu, Naiming Zhang, Li Bao","doi":"10.1007/s10653-025-02555-0","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s10653-025-02555-0","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The southwestern region of Yunnan Province, China, is characterized by typical karst landforms, where the elevated concentration of soil heavy metals has had significant impacts on the local environment. The objective of this study was to investigate the spatial distribution of soil heavy metals (Cu, Zn, Pb, Cd, and Cr) and identify the influencing factors in the target area using geo-detector and spatial interpolation techniques. The average concentration of chromium (Cr) in the study area exceeded the background level of soil elements in Yunnan Province, being 1.35 times higher than the background value. The concentrations of the other heavy metals did not exceed the background levels, although individual sampling points showed values above the standard. In terms of spatial distribution, the high-concentration areas for all five heavy metals were primarily located in the central part of the study area. GeoDetector analysis revealed that soil pH, soil organic matter, GDP, evapotranspiration, rainfall, and land-use type were the main factors influencing soil heavy metal. Interaction detector analysis showed that the results of factor interactions led to either non-linear or two-factor enhancement. Among Cu, Zn, and Cd, the strongest interacting combination was found between pH and organic carbon (OC). This study clarifies the factors affecting soil heavy metal concentrations in karst regions and provides a scientific evaluation method and decision-making support for similar areas with high background values. The findings hold significant scientific value and practical implications.</p>","PeriodicalId":11759,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Geochemistry and Health","volume":"47 7","pages":"244"},"PeriodicalIF":3.2,"publicationDate":"2025-06-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144208028","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Effectiveness of magnetic separation pretreatment methods in evaluating heavy metal pollution in urban soils: a case study of Nanjing City.","authors":"Jian Zhang, Liang Liu, Xinran Wei, Yaoyao Sun, Liangjie Wang, Xiaoyue Xie","doi":"10.1007/s10653-025-02558-x","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s10653-025-02558-x","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Magnetic separation methods have been widely applied in the pretreatment of environmental samples. In this study, six types of soil samples from industrial areas, farmlands, residential areas, forest lands, green belts, and parks in Nanjing City underwent magnetic separation, forming strong and weak magnetic fractions. The magnetic susceptibility indicators (χ<sub>lf</sub>, χ<sub>fd</sub>%, and χ<sub>fd</sub>) and the contents of heavy metal elements (Cd, Cu, Pb, and Zn) were then determined. The magnetic susceptibility of the strong magnetic fraction (450.7 × 10<sup> -8</sup> m<sup>3</sup>·kg<sup> -1</sup>) was more than three times that of the original soil sample (141.1 × 10<sup> -8</sup> m<sup>3</sup>·kg<sup> -1</sup>). The magnetic substances within the strong magnetic fraction showed obvious enrichment in Cd, Cu, Pb, and Zn, with respective enrichment coefficients of 1.2, 2.2, 1.5, and 1.4, and their contents were higher than those in both the original soil sample and the weak magnetic fraction. Magnetic separation increased the contents of magnetic substances and heavy metals in the soil samples, which was more conducive to uncovering the relationship between magnetic indices and heavy metal contents. The correlation between the magnetic susceptibilities of the strong magnetic fraction and the original soil sample can indicate the degree of heavy metal pollution in urban soils, with a stronger correlation indicating more severe heavy metal pollution. Our findings demonstrate that the magnetic susceptibility of the strong magnetic fraction reflects heavy metal pollution and can thus play an important role in evaluating heavy metal pollution in urban soils.</p>","PeriodicalId":11759,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Geochemistry and Health","volume":"47 7","pages":"240"},"PeriodicalIF":3.2,"publicationDate":"2025-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144198514","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Concurrence of mining and climate change: environmental implications and mitigation strategies.","authors":"Anita Punia, Saurabh Kumar Singh","doi":"10.1007/s10653-025-02556-z","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s10653-025-02556-z","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Mines degrade and contaminate environment at local or regional level posing risk to human health. However, the consequences of environmental degradation caused by mines on climate change is limited in literature. The review is carried out to understand the interplay of mines and climate change in perspective of its environmental implications. Mining and mineral processing contribute to climate change first, by emitting the greenhouse gases (GHGs) and second, by decreasing the carbon storage due to loss of vegetation cover. The increasing demand for minerals promotes the extraction of low-grade ore in extensive quantity further leading to an increase in fossil fuel consumption and GHGs emission. The decline in vegetation cover is attributed to decline of water resources, conversion of fertile land to wasteland and change in land use pattern. The variation in climatic factors such as temperature, precipitation and melting of glaciers accelerate the environmental degradation. Metal contamination due to tailing dam failure or runoff from waste dumps is expected to increase under the influence of climate change. It is difficult to quantify the role of mines on climate change considering the indirect factors such as loss of vegetation cover, acid mine drainage, quantity of waste generated and decline in water resources. The present study makes an attempt to understand the role of these indirect factors in climate change. Similarly, the contribution of mines in climate change can be reduce by replacing use of non-renewable energy with renewable energy. It would reduce carbon footprint of mines.</p>","PeriodicalId":11759,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Geochemistry and Health","volume":"47 7","pages":"241"},"PeriodicalIF":3.2,"publicationDate":"2025-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144198513","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Kadriye Taşpınar, Halil Aytop, Özgür Ateş, Memet Varol, Gülser Yalçın, Fatih Kızılaslan, Hasan Çakıllı, Serdar Toprak
{"title":"Zinc bioavailability in semiarid agricultural regions: a soil property-based assessment.","authors":"Kadriye Taşpınar, Halil Aytop, Özgür Ateş, Memet Varol, Gülser Yalçın, Fatih Kızılaslan, Hasan Çakıllı, Serdar Toprak","doi":"10.1007/s10653-025-02544-3","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s10653-025-02544-3","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Zinc concentration in soils can cause both nutritional deficiency and toxicity in plants. Therefore, both the concentration and availability of Zn, especially in semiarid soils, are critical for agriculture and the environment. This study was carried out to determine the relationship between Zn concentrations and some soil properties in semiarid agricultural areas of Türkiye and to create spatial distribution maps. For this purpose, 1529 surface soil samples (0-30 cm) were taken from the 8687 km<sup>2</sup> study area and organic matter (OM), calcium carbonate (CaCO<sub>3</sub>), pH, available phosphorus (AP), available Zn (AZn) and total Zn (TZn) analyses were carried out. In addition, the Zn availability ratio (Zn-AR) was calculated by the ratio of AZn to TZn concentration. The results indicated that AZn and TZn had high coefficients of variation (> 45%) due to the high heterogeneity of agricultural soils in the study area. Total Zn concentration ranged from 11.74 to 276.45 mg kg<sup>-1</sup> and only 11.8% of the soil samples for TZn were found to exceed the upper continental crust value (67 mg kg<sup>-1</sup>), indicating low Zn accumulation in the study area. Similarly, none of the samples for TZn exceeded the maximum permissible concentration in soils. However, AZn deficiency was determined in 55% of the samples. Correlation analysis showed that AZn had significant positive correlations with TZn, AP and OM (p < 0.01). Spatial distribution maps showed that there were some differences in distribution trends of TZn and AZn concentrations. Total Zn concentrations were higher in the northern and northwestern regions of the study area, while AZn concentrations were higher in the western region. The zinc availability ratio (Zn-AR) showed higher values in the western and southeastern regions of the study area. Soil properties influencing the spatial distribution of Zn availability were AZn, AP and OM.</p>","PeriodicalId":11759,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Geochemistry and Health","volume":"47 7","pages":"238"},"PeriodicalIF":3.2,"publicationDate":"2025-05-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12126324/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144191623","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Identifying the key factors of mercury exposure in residents of southwestern Iran using machine learning algorithms.","authors":"Narjes Okati, Zohre Ebrahimi-Khusfi, Samira Zandifar, Ruhollah Taghizadeh-Mehrjardi","doi":"10.1007/s10653-025-02533-6","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s10653-025-02533-6","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>It is necessary to predict hair mercury (Hg) levels and specify the related effective factors to develop preventive strategies to reduce Hg exposure in different regions. This study is the first effort to investigate the effectiveness of eight machine learning (ML) models (including multiple linear regression, decision tree regression, least absolute shrinkage and selection operator, multivariate adaptive regression splines, random forest, extreme gradient boosting, K-nearest neighbor, and Gaussian process) for predicting hair Hg levels and identifying the most important factors affecting them in residents of southwestern Iran. All ML models were trained with 70% of the dataset and their performance was evaluated using the determination coefficient (R<sup>2</sup>), root mean square error (RMSE), and mean absolute error (MAE) based on the remaining dataset. Finally, the Permutation Feature Importance (PFI) method was used to determine the relative importance (RI) of influencing factors. Mean hair Hg (3.31 µg g⁻<sup>1</sup>) was higher than the United States Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA) and World Health Organization (WHO) limits. It was indicated a high exposure risk for some people in this region. The extreme gradient boosting (XGB) model outperformed other algorithms in modeling hair Hg levels, with R<sup>2</sup> = 0.61, RMSE = 2.2, and MAE = 1.25. According to the PFI analysis, weight (RI: 43.4%) and geographic place (RI: 41.8%) were found as the most important demographic factors influencing Hg variation in the study population. Additionally, occupation (RI: 46.1%) and the frequency of fish and canned fish consumption (RI: 22%) were identified as the most significant exposure factors controlling hair Hg variability in southwestern Iran. These findings can be useful for formulating appropriate strategies to reduce the health risk of Hg exposure and improve human health.</p>","PeriodicalId":11759,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Geochemistry and Health","volume":"47 7","pages":"239"},"PeriodicalIF":3.2,"publicationDate":"2025-05-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144191622","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Aishwaryashri Tamrakar, Shamsh Pervez, Judith C Chow, John G Watson, Yasmeen Fatima Pervez, Manas Kanti Deb, Mohammad Nahid Siddiqui
{"title":"Spatiotemporal variability, atmospheric chemistry implications and health risk assessment of ambient volatile organic compounds in Central India.","authors":"Aishwaryashri Tamrakar, Shamsh Pervez, Judith C Chow, John G Watson, Yasmeen Fatima Pervez, Manas Kanti Deb, Mohammad Nahid Siddiqui","doi":"10.1007/s10653-025-02552-3","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s10653-025-02552-3","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Twenty-one volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that are markers for anthropogenic and biogenic emission sources were quantified in and around the city of Raipur, Chhattisgarh state in central India from November 2021 to February 2022 and from April to June 2022. Spatiotemporal VOC patterns, implications for atmospheric reactivity and associated health risks are investigated. Six monitoring sites represented the urban background, an industrial area, a commercial center, a residential neighbourhood, a refuelling station, and a traffic junction. Ambient air was drawn through Tenax sorbent tubes followed by analysis using Thermal- Desorption Gas Chromatography Triple Quadrupole Mass spectrometry (TD-GC-MS/MS). Benzene (BeZ) concentrations were ~ 3-8 times higher than the Indian National Ambient Air Quality Standards of 5 µg-m<sup>-3</sup>. Toluene achieved the highest average concentration of 70.22 ± 10.20 µg-m<sup>-3</sup> near the heavily-travelled roadway. The sum of VOCs (Σ<sub>21</sub>VOCs) was highest near the refuelling station, followed the roadway, the industrial area, the commercial area and the residential neighbourhood. Low concentrations were found at the background site. Toluene /Benzene ratios indicate that the vehicular exhaust is the prevailing source of ambient VOCs. Ozone Formation Potential calculations indicate isomers of xylene and toluene are main contributor to ozone formation. Lifetime cancer risks (LTCR) values for both children and adults exceeded the recommended values of USEPA (10<sup>-6</sup>) and the WHO (10<sup>-5</sup>).</p>","PeriodicalId":11759,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Geochemistry and Health","volume":"47 7","pages":"237"},"PeriodicalIF":3.2,"publicationDate":"2025-05-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144173071","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}