铀、226Ra在秋葵和花生的转移参数及健康风险评估研究

Research on Transfer Parameters and Health Risk Assessment of Uranium and 226Ra in Okra and Peanut

  • 摘要: 铀矿区土壤的放射性核素污染及其对作物安全的影响是环境领域关注的重要问题,只对作物及其根际土壤中放射性核素含量的分析不足以说明这些作物对人类健康的威胁情况。本研究通过测定铀矿区所在土壤及种植当地作物(秋葵、花生)不同部位(根、茎叶、可食用部分)的铀含量、226Ra比活度,比较两种作物不同部位(根、茎叶、可食用部分)对铀、226Ra的转移参数,并结合污染负荷指数法与健康风险模型进行综合评价。结果表明:两种作物种植区土壤铀、226Ra均显著高于当地背景值;铀与226Ra在作物体内转移规律相反:铀主要积累于根部,而226Ra更易向可食用部分迁移;除低浓度地块秋葵外,其余作物可食用部分铀、226Ra均超过《食品中放射性物质限制浓度标准》(GB 14882—1994)限值,且花生和秋葵中放射性核素污染状况总体比较严重,均属于Ⅲ级污染;花生在高浓度铀污染地块存在健康风险(危害商HQ>1),其总致癌风险虽高于美国环境保护署(USEPA)可忽略阈值(1×10−6),但低于不可接受风险水平(1×10−4)及国际放射防护委员会(ICRP)推荐值(5×10−5),而秋葵风险可接受。综上,铀矿区花生种植需谨慎管控。本研究可为铀矿区农产品安全生产与风险防控提供关键参数与科学依据。

     

    Abstract: Radioactive contamination of soil in uranium mining areas and its impacts on crop safety constitute a critical environmental concern. Nevertheless, merely analyzing the concentrations of radionuclides in crops and their rhizosphere soil is insufficient to comprehensively assess the potential threats to human health. In this study, two locally prevalent crops—okra and peanut—were cultivated in soils with varying contamination levels within a uranium mining area. The uranium concentrations and specific activities of 226Ra in the rhizosphere soil, as well as different plant tissues (roots, stems and leaves, edible parts) of the two crops were determined separately. Transfer factors (TF1, TF2, TF3) of the two radionuclides from soil to crop roots, stems/leaves and edible portions were calculated accordingly. Furthermore, two distinct evaluation approaches, namely the pollution load index (PLI) method and a health risk assessment model, were adopted to comprehensively characterize the contamination status of okra and peanuts. Key findings of this study are summarized as follows. The concentrations of uranium and 226Ra in soils of both crop-growing areas are markedly higher than the local geochemical background values. Uranium and 226Ra exhibit opposite translocation patterns within plants: Uranium is largely retained in root tissues with limited upward translocation, while 226Ra possesses high mobility and preferentially accumulated in edible tissues, imposing greater potential risks via dietary intake. Except for okra grown in lightly contaminated plots, the contents of uranium and 226Ra in the edible parts of all other crop samples exceed the limit values specified in the Chinese national standard Limited Concentrations of Radioactive Substances in Foods (GB 14882-1994). In addition, both peanuts and okra suffer severe overall radioactive contamination, with their PLI values falling into the extreme pollution grade. Health risk assessment results indicate that peanuts cultivated in heavily uranium-contaminated plots poses non-carcinogenic risks, with hazard quotient (HQ) values exceeding the threshold of 1.0. The total carcinogenic risk of peanuts is higher than the negligible risk level (1×10−6) set by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA), yet lower than both the unacceptable risk threshold (1×10−4) and the reference value (5×10−5) recommended by the International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP). In comparison, okra from all experimental plots presents acceptable non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic risks. In conclusion, the results demonstrate that although both crop species are subjected to significant soil-derived radioactive contamination, the divergent translocation behaviors of uranium and 226Ra lead to distinctly different exposure risks. Special caution is required for peanut cultivation and rigorous monitoring should be implemented in heavily polluted zones to guarantee food safety.

     

/

返回文章
返回