An overview on the organic pollution around the Qinghai-Tibet plateau: The thought-provoking situation.
The Qinghai-Tibet Plateau plays an important role in the ecological safety and human health of the surroundings due to its unique geographical position and function. Therefore, it is necessary to study the pollution status and potential risk in this area. This study summarizes the distribution of different organic pollutants in biota and environmental media of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. Moreover, it also pays attention to the potential health risks of these organic pollutants. Organochlorine pesticides (OCPs), polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), and polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) were the most frequently detected in different matrices. In general, the carcinogenic risks of organic pollutants were ranked in the very-low to moderate range for both children and adults. The carcinogenic risks of organic pollutants in fish, food, and water for children were 1-2 times higher than those for adults, while risks of organic pollutants in soil/sediment and in air for children were generally 10.6-16.5 and 2.6-2.8 times higher than those for adults, respectively. The maximal hazard quotient for non-carcinogenic risk was 0.95 (potential risk for children posed by organic pollutants in yak milk of Ruoergai), almost reaching an unacceptable level. Therefore, the potential health risks could not be neglected, especially for children who were more likely to be affected by the pollutants.
Qinghai Institute of Salt Lakes, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xining, Qinghai 810008, People's Republic of China.
Jun
J
Wu
Key Laboratory of Coastal Environmental Processes and Ecological Remediation, Yantai Institute of Coastal Zone Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Yantai, Shandong 264003, People's Republic of China. Electronic address: jlu@yic.ac.cn.
Jian
J
Lu
Key Laboratory of Coastal Environmental Processes and Ecological Remediation, Yantai Institute of Coastal Zone Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Yantai, Shandong 264003, People's Republic of China.
Yongming
Y
Luo
Qinghai Institute of Salt Lakes, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xining, Qinghai 810008, People's Republic of China.
Dongping
D
Duan
School of Resources and Environmental Engineering, Ludong University, Yantai, Shandong 264025, People's Republic of China.
Zhenhua
Z
Zhang
Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou, Gansu 730000, People's Republic of China.
Xiaohu
X
Wen
Qinghai Institute of Salt Lakes, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xining, Qinghai 810008, People's Republic of China.
Xiuyun
X
Min
Qinghai Institute of Salt Lakes, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xining, Qinghai 810008, People's Republic of China.
Xiaoying
X
Guo
Indian River Research and Education Center, University of Florida, Fort Pierce, FL 34945-3138, USA.
Brian J
BJ
Boman
D002273:Carcinogens / Q000032:analysis; D002648:Child; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D004787:Environmental Pollution / Q000032:analysis*; D019015:Geologic Sediments / Q000737:chemistry; D055768:Halogenated Diphenyl Ethers / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D006843:Hydrocarbons, Chlorinated / Q000032:analysis; D010575:Pesticides / Q000032:analysis; D011084:Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons / Q000032:analysis; D012989:Soil Pollutants / Q000032:analysis; D018609:Tibet; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis
D002273:Carcinogens; D055768:Halogenated Diphenyl Ethers; D006843:Hydrocarbons, Chlorinated; D010575:Pesticides; D011084:Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons; D012989:Soil Pollutants; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical
Carcinogenic risk; Non-carcinogenic risk; Organic pollutants; Risk assessment; The Qinghai-Tibet plateau