Background: The activity of heavy metal (HM) mining and processing industries causes soils contamination with HM. The metals could be transferred from contaminated soils to edible plants and fungi. This study aimed to assess the content of Cd, Pb, Hg, As, and Ni in berries and edible mushrooms collected in the forests located near Miasteczko Slaskie zinc smelter and in the Lubliniec region, in the context of consumers’ health risk. Methods: The ET-AAS method was used to determine the content of Cd, Pb, Ni, and As. Mercury concentration was determined using the CV-AFS method. Results: The studies showed high levels of Cd and Pb in the examined products. A statistically significant impact of the distance from the smelter on the Cd concentration in the berries was observed. Total non-cancer health risk from the combined exposure of adults to all HM in mushrooms and berries was significant when consuming the most heavily contaminated produce. The risk to children was significant, even when consuming products with moderate levels of the metals. Ingestion of Cd by children with mushrooms was related to a high cancer risk. The uncertainty of the results was determined. Conclusions: It is recommended to take action to increase awareness among residents of the areas adjacent to the forests regarding the existing health risk and to take possible measures to reduce exposure to HM.

In Poland the incidence of colorectal cancer increases by 2.5% annually and differs significantly across the country. There are large inequalities in the incidence rate of colorectal cancers between 18 cities of Silesia Province. The inequalities may indicate significant impact of environmental risk factors on the development of this cancer. The aim of our study was to analyze the relationship between exposure to cadmium of the Silesian city inhabitants and the incidences of colorectal cancer in the population of men and women. In addition, the effect of exposure time on cadmium used in the study on the correlation coefficient value of the occurrence of colorectal cancer and the exposure was assessed. Studies have shown a statistically significant relationship between morbidity for colorectal cancer in the population of men and women from 18 cities of Silesia Province in 2010-2014 and the average annual concentration of cadmium in particulate matter PM10 in the years 1989-2008. A statistically significant relationship between exposure to cadmium and colorectal cancer in the population of inhabitants of Silesia Province was reported.

Objectives: Cadmium is an important environmental health risk factor for inhabitants of the Upper Silesia, Poland. Due to the cultivation of food crops in cadmium-contaminated soils of agricultural fields, home gardens and allotment gardens in the Silesian Region, the problem of exposure to...

Heavy metal exposure is a significant public health problem, especially among children, who are a particularly vulnerable group. This study investigates the non-dietary exposure of children to lead, cadmium, and zinc and the associated health risk in three selected locations near the former non-ferrous metal smelters. Soil samples were collected from schools, parks, playgrounds, and other recreational places where children spend their free time in three districts of such towns as Katowice, Świętochłowice, and Piekary Śląskie. The contents of Cd, Pb, and Zn in the surface soil samples had the following ranges: 4.09–20.94 mg Cd/kg d.m., 161.70–1027.68 mg Pb/kg d.m., and 577.76–1475.93 mg Zn/kg d.m., respectively. The threshold doses of Cd, Zn, and Pb are 0.001 mg × kg⁻¹ × day⁻¹, 0.3 mg × kg⁻¹ × day⁻¹, and 0.0035 mg × kg⁻¹ × day⁻¹. A significant health risk was estimated as a result of non-dietary exposure of children to lead. The greatest non-cancer health risk in the population of children <6 years of age and in younger school children (<12 years of age) was shown. The problem was especially concerning in the scenario that assumed ingestion of soil particles in the areas most heavily contaminated with lead in the Katowice—Szopienice district. The public health policy should aim to monitor the current exposure of the local population to Pb and educate them on effective prophylactic methods to minimize environmental health risks.

Introduction: Protein supplements are commonly used by an increasing group of people practicing bodybuilding. The chronic use of supplements may constitute a potential health risk for consumers because of possible exposure to certain micro-contaminations, e.g. toxic metals. Objectives: The...