Evaluation of the environmental and human health risk related to metallic contamination in agricultural soils in the Mediterranean semi-arid area (Saiss plain, Morocco)

In the plain of Saiss, the most agricultural region of Morocco, the studies concerning the assessment of environmental and human risks related to metal contamination of agricultural soils are severely missing. To overcome the lack of such studies, trace-element analyses were carried out on six sampling sites of agricultural surface soils (66 sampling points), irrigated by superficial watercourses with high heavy metal contents. The average trace-element contents were 78, 55, 33, and 119 (mg kg⁻¹), respectively, for Cr, Cu, Ni, and Zn. These values are above average worldwide soil and geochemical background levels. Multivariate statistical analyses, principal component, and cluster analyses suggest that soil contamination by Cr, Cu, and Zn is mainly due to wastewater irrigation, with the exception of Ni, which is probably of pedo-lithogenic origin. To provide further information on contamination transmission, the bioavailability and distribution of the four heavy metals in the soils were studied by sequential and single extractions. The results indicate that Cu and Zn are potentially available and can constitute a potential risk to the environment. The risk assessment of soil contamination was also carried out using risk assessment code, enrichment factor, contamination factor, degree of contamination, pollution lead index, geoaccumulation index, and potential ecological risk factors. The health risk evaluation by the Hazard Index was used to derive a combined risk of soil ingestion, dermal contact, and inhalation for adults and children. According to these indices, the soils present a moderate-to-high contamination for Cu and Zn elements, respectively. Hazard Index values indicate the relative absence of health risks associated to heavy metals for both adults and children.