Occupational Exposure to Heavy Metal(loid)-Contaminated Soil from Mining Operations: A Case Study of the Majdanpek Site, Serbia
Source abstract
Abstract
This study investigated the occupational hazard effects of heavy metal(loid)s (HMs) from soil in several critical mining activity areas at the Majdanpek copper mine in Serbia. Soil contamination and associated ecological and health risks to workers were evaluated through an apportionment of sources and a quantitative evaluation of ecological and health risks. The majority of soil samples had increased concentrations of Cd, Cu, Pb, Zn, Hg, As, Mo, and Sb. The results of the multivariate statistical analysis suggested the existence of multiple sources. The positive matrix factorization further explained these associations between HMs and defined three main pollution sources: natural (Factor 1), mixed source (Factor 2), and mining pollution (Factor 3). According to the RI, the average value was 1215, with more than half of the samples (57.4%) showing very high pollution levels, while 3.3% of the samples had an RI lower than 150. The ecological risk was dominated by Cd, Cu, and Hg, with Factor 3 contributing the most to the RI values. Assessment of worker exposure to soil revealed that outdoor workers had a higher potential for adverse health effects, with mean HI and TCR being 0.18 and 2.9 × 10−5, respectively. The identified sources had similar impacts on non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic risks, with a decreasing trend: Factor 3 > Factor 2 > Factor 1. Indoor workers were exposed to neither non-carcinogenic or carcinogenic risks, whereas outdoor workers suffered from possible health issues regarding TCR. Source-specific health risk assessment indicated mining pollution as the only risk contributing factor. A Monte Carlo simulation of risks revealed that the probability of developing carcinogenic issues for outdoor workers was within the safety threshold (TCR < 10−4). The findings of this study emphasize the need for regulation and control strategies for worker health risks from HM-contaminated soil in mining areas.
Source: crossref · Quality: baseline
Research context
OpenAlex topics: Heavy metals in environment · Geochemistry and Geologic Mapping · Radioactivity and Radon Measurements
SciVX discovery tags are terminology-based. OpenAlex topics are source-provided classifications.
Affiliations
Faculty of Technology and Metallurgy, University of Belgrade, Karnegijeva 4, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia
Faculty of Geosciences and Environmental Engineering, Southwest Jiaotong University, Chengdu 611756, China
Sichuan Province Engineering Technology Research Center of Ecological Mitigation of Geohazards in Tibet Plateau Transportation Corridors, Chengdu 611756, China
Innovation Center of the Faculty of Technology and Metallurgy, Karnegijeva 4, 11120 Belgrade, Serbia
Funding
Ministry of Science, Technological Development, and Innovation of the Republic of Serbia
References (71)
Show source-provided references
1. Heavy Metal Contents of Contaminated Soils and Ecological Risk Assessment in Abandoned Copper Mine Harbor in Yedidalga, Northern Cyprus10.1007/s12665-018-7556-6 ↗
2. Heavy Metals Pollution from Smelting Activities: A Threat to Soil and Groundwater10.1016/j.ecoenv.2024.116189 ↗
3. Sources, Effects and Present Perspectives of Heavy Metals Contamination: Soil, Plants and Human Food Chain10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e28357 ↗
4. Sources, Transfers and the Fate of Heavy Metals in Soil-Wheat Systems: The Case of Lead (Pb)/Zinc (Zn) Smelting Region10.1016/j.jhazmat.2022.129863 ↗
5. Teng, Y., Liu, L., Zheng, N., Liu, H., Wu, L., and Yue, W. (2022). Application of Different Indices for Soil Heavy Metal Pollution Risk Assessment Comparison and Uncertainty: A Case Study of a Copper Mine Tailing Site. Minerals, 12.10.3390/min12091074 ↗
6. Characterizations of Heavy Metal Contamination, Microbial Community, and Resistance Genes in a Tailing of the Largest Copper Mine in China10.1016/j.envpol.2021.116947 ↗
7. Baseline Values and Environmental Assessment for Metal(Loid)s in Soils under a Tropical Rainy Climate in a Colombian Region10.1007/s10661-022-10036-5 ↗
8. Filimon, M.N., Caraba, I.V., Popescu, R., Dumitrescu, G., Verdes, D., Ciochina, L.P., and Sinitean, A. (2021). Potential Ecological and Human Health Risks of Heavy Metals in Soils in Selected Copper Mining Areas—A Case Study: The Bor Area. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health, 18.10.3390/ijerph18041516 ↗
9. Raj, D., Kumar, A., and Maiti, S.K. (2022). Health Risk Assessment of Children Exposed to the Soil Containing Potentially Toxic Elements: A Case Study from Coal Mining Areas. Metals, 12.10.3390/met12111795 ↗
10. Identification Priority Source of Soil Heavy Metals Pollution Based on Source-Specific Ecological and Human Health Risk Analysis in a Typical Smelting and Mining Region of South China10.1016/j.ecoenv.2022.113864 ↗
11. Physico-Chemical Characteristics and Heavy Metal Concentrations of Copper Mine Wastes in Zambia: Implications for Pollution Risk and Restoration10.1007/s11676-019-00921-0 ↗
12. Dusengemungu, L., Mubemba, B., and Gwanama, C. (2022). Evaluation of Heavy Metal Contamination in Copper Mine Tailing Soils of Kitwe and Mufulira, Zambia, for Reclamation Prospects. Sci. Rep., 12.10.1038/s41598-022-15458-2 ↗
13. Cacciuttolo, C., and Cano, D. (2022). Environmental Impact Assessment of Mine Tailings Spill Considering Metallurgical Processes of Gold and Copper Mining: Case Studies in the Andean Countries of Chile and Peru. Water, 14.10.3390/w14193057 ↗
14. Pan, Y., Chen, M., Wang, X., Chen, Y., and Dong, K. (2023). Ecological Risk Assessment and Source Analysis of Heavy Metals in the Soils of a Lead-Zinc Mining Watershed Area. Water, 15.10.3390/w15010113 ↗
15. Heavy Metal Contamination and Ecological Risk Assessment in Soils of the Pawara Gold Mining Area, Eastern Cameroon10.3390/earth3030053 ↗
16. Wang, Z., Bao, J., Wang, T., Moryani, H.T., Kang, W., Zheng, J., Zhan, C., and Xiao, W. (2021). Hazardous Heavy Metals Accumulation and Health Risk Assessment of Different Vegetable Species in Contaminated Soils from a Typical Mining City, Central China. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health, 18.10.3390/ijerph18052617 ↗
17. Heavy Metal Pollution Characteristics and Health Risk Evaluation of Soil around a Tungsten-Molybdenum Mine in Luoyang, China10.1007/s12665-021-09539-0 ↗
18. Chen, R., Han, L., Liu, Z., Zhao, Y., Li, R., Xia, L., and Fan, Y. (2022). Assessment of Soil-Heavy Metal Pollution and the Health Risks in a Mining Area from Southern Shaanxi Province, China. Toxics, 10.10.3390/toxics10070385 ↗
19. Distribution, Source Investigation, and Risk Assessment of Topsoil Heavy Metals in Areas with Intensive Anthropogenic Activities Using the Positive Matrix Factorization (PMF) Model Coupled with Self-Organizing Map (SOM)10.1007/s10653-023-01587-8 ↗
20. Onjia, A., Huang, X., Trujillo González, J.M., and Egbueri, J.C. (2022). Editorial: Chemometric Approach to Distribution, Source Apportionment, Ecological and Health Risk of Trace Pollutants. Front. Environ. Sci., 10.10.3389/fenvs.2022.1107465 ↗
21. Source-Specific Probabilistic Contamination Risk and Health Risk Assessment of Soil Heavy Metals in a Typical Ancient Mining Area10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.167772 ↗
22. Pollution Characteristics and Source Identification of Soil Metal(Loid)s at an Abandoned Arsenic-Containing Mine, China10.1016/j.jhazmat.2021.125382 ↗
23. Xiao, M., Xu, S., Yang, B., Zeng, G., Qian, L., Huang, H., and Ren, S. (2022). Contamination, Source Apportionment, and Health Risk Assessment of Heavy Metals in Farmland Soils Surrounding a Typical Copper Tailings Pond. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health, 19.10.3390/ijerph192114264 ↗
24. Seasonality of Environmental Health Risks and Soil Pollution from an Unsanitary Landfill in Nigeria: Implications for Water Security, Agriculture, and Climate Adaptation
25. A Global Meta-Analysis of Heavy Metal(Loid)s Pollution in Soils near Copper Mines: Evaluation of Pollution Level and Probabilistic Health Risks10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.155441 ↗
26. Wang, L., Liu, Q., and Bai, R. (2025). Soil Heavy Metal Pollution and Health Risk Assessment Based on Monte Carlo Simulation: Case Study of Xicheng Lead-Zinc Mining Area. Sustainability, 17.10.3390/su17093963 ↗
27. Source-Oriented Stochastic Health Risk Assessment of Toxic Metals in Soil via a Hybrid Model and Monte Carlo Simulation10.1016/j.ecoenv.2024.117209 ↗
28. Determination of Priority Control Factors for the Management of Soil Trace Metal(Loid)s Based on Source-Oriented Health Risk Assessment10.1016/j.jhazmat.2021.127116 ↗
29. Health Risk Assessment of Heavy Metals Based on Source Analysis and Monte Carlo in the Downstream Basin of the Zishui10.1016/j.envres.2023.117975 ↗
30. Source-Specific Probabilistic Health Risk Assessment of Potentially Toxic Elements in Groundwater of a Copper Mining and Smelter Area10.1007/s00477-023-02643-6 ↗
31. Towards an Integrated Health Risk Assessment Framework of Soil Heavy Metals Pollution: Theoretical Basis, Conceptual Model, and Perspectives10.1016/j.envpol.2022.120596 ↗
32. Health Risk Assessment Associated with Heavy Metals through Fractioned Dust from Coal and Chromite Mines in Pakistan10.1007/s10653-022-01285-x ↗
33. Environmental and Human Health Risks of Potentially Harmful Elements in Mining-Impacted Soils: A Case Study of the Angouran Zn–Pb Mine, Iran10.1016/j.jenvman.2023.117470 ↗
34. Wongsasuluk, P., Tun, A.Z., Chotpantarat, S., and Siriwong, W. (2021). Related Health Risk Assessment of Exposure to Arsenic and Some Heavy Metals in Gold Mines in Banmauk Township, Myanmar. Sci. Rep., 11.10.1038/s41598-021-02171-9 ↗
35. Health Risk Assessment of Occupational Exposure to Heavy Metals in a Steel Casting Unit of a Steelmaking Plant Using Monte–Carlo Simulation Technique10.1177/07482337211019593 ↗
36. Health Risk Assessment for Exposure to Heavy Metals in Soils in and around E-Waste Dumping Site10.1016/j.jece.2022.107269 ↗
37. Vesković, J., and Onjia, A. (2024). Environmental Implications of the Soil-to-Groundwater Migration of Heavy Metals in Mining Area Hotspots. Metals, 14.10.3390/met14060719 ↗
38. The Majdanpek Cu-Au Porphyry Deposit of Eastern Serbia: A Review
39. Flotation Studies of Copper Ore Majdanpek to Enhance Copper Recovery and Concentrate Grade with Different Collectors10.5937/JMMA1901053S ↗
40. Heavy Metal(Loid)s in Agricultural Soils in the World’s Largest Barium-Mining Area: Pollution Characteristics, Source Apportionment, and Health Risks Using PMF Model and Cd Isotopes10.1016/j.psep.2022.08.061 ↗
41. Identification and Hazard Analysis of Heavy Metal Sources in Agricultural Soils in Ancient Mining Areas: A Quantitative Method Based on the Receptor Model and Risk Assessment10.1016/j.jhazmat.2022.130528 ↗
42. Pollution Assessment of Heavy Metals in Soils of India and Ecological Risk Assessment: A State-of-the-Art10.1016/j.chemosphere.2018.10.066 ↗
43. USEPA (2014). EPA Positive Matrix Factorization (PMF) 5.0 Fundamentals and User Guide, Office of Research and Development, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
44. Pollution Assessment and Source Apportionment of Heavy Metals in Soil from Lead—Zinc Mining Areas of South China10.1016/j.jece.2023.109320 ↗
45. An ecological risk index for aquatic pollution control
46. Soil Contamination and Health Risk Assessment from Heavy Metals Exposure near Mining Area in Bac Kan Province, Vietnam10.1007/s10653-021-01168-7 ↗
47. Composition of the Continental Crust
48. Metal Pollution, Eco-Health Risks and Source Apportionment in Coastal Sediments of Samsun, Türkiye: A Receiving Zone for the Kızılırmak and Yeşilırmak Rivers10.1016/j.envres.2025.122113 ↗
49. Moldovan, A., Török, A.I., Kovacs, E., Cadar, O., Mirea, I.C., and Micle, V. (2022). Metal Contents and Pollution Indices Assessment of Surface Water, Soil, and Sediment from the Arieș River Basin Mining Area, Romania. Sustainability, 14.10.3390/su14138024 ↗
50. USEPA (1989). Risk Assessment Guidance for Superfund. Volume I Human Health Evaluation Manual (Part A), Office of Emergency and Remedial Response U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
51. Source-Oriented Probabilistic Health Risk Assessment of Soil Potentially Toxic Elements in a Typical Mining City10.1016/j.jhazmat.2022.130222 ↗
52. Liu, H., Xie, J., Cheng, Z., and Wu, X. (2023). Characteristics, Chemical Speciation and Health Risk Assessment of Heavy Metals in Paddy Soil and Rice around an Abandoned High-Arsenic Coal Mine Area, Southwest China. Minerals, 13.10.3390/min13050629 ↗
53. Monte Carlo Simulation of Source-Specific Risks of Soil at an Abandoned Lead-Acid Battery Recycling Site10.1007/s00477-024-02747-7 ↗
54. Health Risk Assessment of Soil Heavy Metals in a Typical Mining Town in North China Based on Monte Carlo Simulation Coupled with Positive Matrix Factorization Model10.1016/j.envres.2024.118696 ↗
55. Li, D., Lu, Q., Cai, L., Chen, L., and Wang, H. (2023). Characteristics of Soil Heavy Metal Pollution and Health Risk Assessment in Urban Parks at a Megacity of Central China. Toxics, 11.10.3390/toxics11030257 ↗
56. Entropy-Weighted Water Quality Index, Hydrogeochemistry, and Monte Carlo Simulation of Source-Specific Health Risks of Groundwater in the Morava River Plain (Serbia)10.1016/j.marpolbul.2024.116277 ↗
57. Miletić, A., Lučić, M., and Onjia, A. (2023). Exposure Factors in Health Risk Assessment of Heavy Metal(Loid)s in Soil and Sediment. Metals, 13.10.3390/met13071266 ↗
58. Factors Influencing Heavy Metal Availability and Risk Assessment of Soils at Typical Metal Mines in Eastern China10.1016/j.jhazmat.2020.123289 ↗
59. Mapping Potential Toxic Elements in Agricultural and Natural Soils of the Piedemonte Llanero in Colombia10.1007/s11270-022-05550-8 ↗
60. Chemometric Investigation of River System Contamination: Source Identification and Risk Assessment Using Positive Matrix Factorization and Monte Carlo Simulation10.1016/j.jconhyd.2025.104627 ↗
61. Leachability Characteristic of Heavy Metals and Associated Health Risk Study in Typical Copper Mining-Impacted Sediments10.1016/j.chemosphere.2019.124748 ↗
62. Contamination Characteristics, Source Apportionment, and Health Risk Assessment of Heavy Metals in Agricultural Soil in the Hexi Corridor10.1016/j.catena.2020.104573 ↗
63. A Geochemical Approach for Source Apportionment and Environmental Impact Assessment of Heavy Metals in a Cu–Ni Mining Region, Botswana10.1007/s12665-021-10158-y ↗
64. Ecological Evaluation of Heavy Metal Pollution in the Soil of Pb-Zn Mines10.1007/s10646-021-02505-3 ↗
65. Pollutant Source, Ecological and Human Health Risks Assessment of Heavy Metals in Soils from Coal Mining Areas in Xinjiang, China10.1016/j.envres.2021.111702 ↗
66. Spatial Distribution and Risk Assessment of Heavy Metal Contamination in Soil-Crop Systems near Gold Mining Areas10.1007/s10653-025-02501-0 ↗
67. Yang, B., Li, W., Xiong, J., Yang, J., Huang, R., and Xie, P. (2023). Health Risk Assessment of Heavy Metals in Soil of Lalu Wetland Based on Monte Carlo Simulation and ACPS-MLR. Water, 15.10.3390/w15244223 ↗
68. Probabilistic human health risk assessment due to potential toxic elements in gold mining-affected areas of Antioquia, Colombia10.1016/j.apgeochem.2025.106491 ↗
69. Pan, X., Weng, X., Zhang, L., Chen, F., Li, H., and Zhang, Y. (2024). Spatiotemporal Characteristics and Monte Carlo Simulation-Based Human Health Risk of Heavy Metals in Soils from a Typical Coal-Mining City in Eastern China. Front. Environ. Sci. Eng., 18.10.1007/s11783-024-1882-6 ↗
70. Sun, K., Kong, J., Gao, J., Fang, Y., Shi, J., Jiang, Z., Ouyang, K., Ge, T., Fang, T., and Shi, Y. (2023). Pollution Characteristics and Probabilistic Human Health Risks of Thallium and Other Heavy Metals in Soils from a Typical Copper Mining City in the Yangtze River Delta, Eastern China. Environ. Pollut. Bioavailab., 35.10.1080/26395940.2023.2250912 ↗
71. Enhancing Health Risk Assessment for Soil Heavy Metal (Loid)s Using a Copula-Based Monte Carlo Simulation Method10.1016/j.ecoenv.2025.118419 ↗